The history of the Arab Emirates has long roots. The appearance of people in the territory of the present UAE was associated with the appearance of the first people who left Africa, approximately 125,000 BC. e., as it became known thanks to the finds at the archaeological site of Faya-1 in Mleikh, Sharjah. Burial sites dating back to the Neolithic and Bronze Ages include the oldest known site at Jebel Buhays. The area was home to a thriving Bronze Age trading culture during the Umm Al-Nar period, trading between the Indus Valley, Bahrain and Mesopotamia, as well as Iran, Bactria and the Levant. The geography of the United Arab Emirates is characterized by an almost complete absence of mountains and a uniformly low relief.
The subsequent period saw the emergence of a nomadic lifestyle, as well as a leap in the development of water management and irrigation systems that stimulate peoplesettle both on the coast and inland. The Islamic Age of the UAE dates back to the expulsion of the Sassanians and the subsequent Battle of Dibba. The long history of trade in the UAE led to the emergence of the city of Julfa in the modern emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, which developed as a major regional trading and maritime center in the area. The largest cities of the country are Abu Dhabi and Dubai - one of the cities of the Arab Caliphate, founded under the first rulers of this state.
The maritime dominance of Arab traders in the Persian Gulf led to conflicts with European nations, including the Portuguese and the British. But the history of the Arab Emirates is just beginning!
Wars and Treaties
Long before the appearance of the emirates and the "sea wars", the Sultanate of Muscat was located on the territory of this country. After decades of maritime conflict, the coastal territories became known as the True States. In 1819, an indefinite "General Treaty" of maritime peace was signed with the British (ratified in 1853 and again in 1892), according to which the True States became a British protectorate.
This arrangement ended with the independence and creation of the United Arab Emirates on December 2, 1971, immediately after Britain's withdrawal from its treaty obligations. Six emirates joined the UAE in 1971, the seventh, Ras Al Khaimah, joined the federation on February 10, 1972. All this is reflected in the administrative division of the United Arab Emirates. With thiscountry is not unitary.
Religion and culture
Islam is the official religion of the country, and Arabic is the state language. The second official language of the United Arab Emirates is English. The UAE's oil reserves are the seventh largest in the world, while natural gas reserves are seventeenth. Sheikh Zayed, the ruler of Abu Dhabi and the first president of the UAE, oversaw the development of the country and channeled oil revenues into he alth care, education and infrastructure. The UAE's economy is the most diversified in the Gulf Cooperation Council, while its most populous city, Dubai, is the center of international aviation and maritime trade.
However, the country is now much less dependent on oil and gas than in previous years and is economically focused on tourism and business. The UAE government does not levy income tax, although there is a corporate tax system and value added tax was set in 2018 at 5%. Islam is the dominant religion and has taken root in the country quite quickly. The reasons for the collapse of the Arab Caliphate had no effect on the rate of spread of Islam.
Global recognition and international status
The growing international profile of the UAE has led to it being recognized as a regional and mid-range power. This country is a member of the United Nations, the League of Arab States, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, OPEC, the Non-Aligned Movement and the Gulf Cooperation Council.
Federation of Absolute Monarchies
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a country on the Arabian Peninsula, located on the southeast coast of the Persian Gulf and the northwest coast of the Gulf of Oman. The UAE is made up of seven emirates and was founded on December 2, 1971 as a federation. Six of them (Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah) united on that December day. The seventh, Ras Al Khaimah, joined the federation on February 10, 1972. The seven sheikhs were formerly known as the "True States" in connection with the contractual relationship established with the British in the 19th century.
Despite the fact that one of the reasons for the collapse of the Arab caliphate at one time was excessive decentralization of power, the emirs nevertheless risked forming a federation.
Ancient history
Artifacts discovered in the UAE tell the oldest story dating back to at least 125,000 BC. e., when people appeared and settled in this region. The area was formerly home to the "Magan people" known to the Sumerians, who traded with both coastal cities and continental settlements. The rich history of trade with the Harappan culture of the Indus Valley is also attested to by finds of jewelry and other items, and there is also abundant early evidence of trade with Afghanistan and Bactria, as well as the Levant.
Ancient Bedouins
Throughout the Iron Age and the subsequent Hellenistic Mliiha period, this area remained an important trading center. As a result of one of the battles of the war withapostates”, which happened near the city of Dibba, the area became Islamized in the 7th century. Small trading ports developed near inland oases such as Liwa, Al Ain and Dhaid, and a tribal Bedouin society coexisted with a settled population in the coastal areas. Bedouins forever inscribed themselves in the history of the Arab Emirates.
European invasion
A series of invasions and bloody battles took place along the coast as the Portuguese under Albuquerque invaded the area. Conflicts between the maritime communities of the True Coast and the British led to the sacking of Ras Al Khaimah by British forces in 1809 and again in 1819, leading to the first of a series of British treaties with the True Rulers in 1820.
These agreements, including the Treaty of Perpetual Peace of the Sea signed in 1853, brought peace and prosperity along the coast and supported a brisk trade in fine natural pearls that continued into the 1930s. When the pearl trade ceased, leading to significant hardship among the coastal communities. Another treaty in 1892 transferred foreign relations to the British in exchange for protectorate status.
British decision
The British decision in early 1968 to end its presence in the Allied States led to the decision to establish the Federation. This was the result of a decision between two of the most powerful rulers, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan of Abu Dhabi and SheikhMohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum from Dubai. They invited other rulers to join the Federation. At one stage, it seemed likely that Bahrain and Qatar would also join the Union, but both eventually decided on independence.
Modernity
Today, the UAE is a modern oil exporting country with a highly diversified economy, with Dubai emerging as a global hub for tourism, retail and finance, home to the world's tallest building and largest man-made seaport.
Let's go back in time
The period from 300 B. C. e. to 0 has been called both Mleiha and the late pre-Islamic period, and is a consequence of the collapse of the empire of Darius III. Although the era has been called Hellenistic, Alexander the Great's conquests did not go beyond Persia, and he left Arabia untouched. However, Macedonian coinage found at Ed-Dur dates back to Alexander the Great, and Greek manuscripts describe exports from Ed-Dur in the form of "pearls, purple dye, clothing, wine, gold, and slaves."
The most complete evidence of human settlement in this area comes from Mleiha, where a thriving agrarian community lived in antiquity. It was here and during this period that the most complete evidence of the use of iron was found, including nails, long swords and arrowheads, as well as the remains of slag from smelting. The civilizations of the Persian Gulf (on the map it is located between Arabia and Iran) and Mesopotamia developed the fastest.
Islamic faith
Islam is the official religion of the UnitedArab Emirates. More than 80% of the population of the United Arab Emirates are from other countries. Almost all citizens of the country are Muslims: approximately 85% are Sunnis and 15% are Shiites. Also no less number of Ismaili Shiites and Ahmadis. Immigrants in the country are predominantly from South and Southeast Asia, although there are significant numbers from the Middle East, Europe, Central Asia, the Commonwe alth of Independent States and North America.
Among the inhabitants of the country there are more Sunnis than Shia Muslims. There are also small numbers of Ismaili Shias and Ahmadis. The judicial system of the UAE is based on continental law and Sharia law. It was inherited by the country from the ancient Sultanate of Muscat.
The arrival of messengers from Muhammad in 632 marked the conversion of the region to Islam. After the death of Muhammad in the city of Dibba (modern emirate of Fujairah), one of the main battles of the "Rida wars" took place. The defeat of the "infidels" in this battle led to the victory of Islam in the Arabian Peninsula. So in the history of the Arab Emirates, Islam became the leading religion.
Wars with neighbors
In 637, Julfar (today Ras al-Khaimah) was used as a springboard for the conquest of Iran. For many centuries, Julfar was a we althy port and pearl trading center, from where seekers of we alth and adventure embarked on a journey across the Indian Ocean.
The attempts of the Ottomans to expand their sphere of influence in the Indian Ocean failed, and it was the expansionthe Portuguese to the Indian Ocean at the beginning of the 16th century, following the path of exploration of Vasco da Gama, led to the sacking of many coastal cities by the Portuguese. After this conflict, Al-Qassimi, a maritime state located on North Lengeh, dominated the waterways of the South Gulf until the arrival of British ships, which came into conflict with officials.
Pirate Coast
The region later became known to the British as the "Pirate Coast" as the Al-Qasimi raiders based there harassed merchant ships, despite British navy patrol boats in the area in the 18th and 19th centuries. There were a number of conflicts between the Arabs and the British between 1809-1819
After several incidents in which British ships were attacked by Al-Qasimi, the British Expeditionary Force arrived at Ras Al Khaimah in 1809, and the so-called Persian Gulf Campaign began. This campaign led to the signing of a peace treaty between the British and Husan bin Rahmah, leader of Al-Qasimi. The treaty was terminated in 1815. J. J. Lorimer claims that after the annulment of the agreements, the state of Al-Qasimi "indulged in a carnival of maritime lawlessness."
After 12 months of repeated attacks, in late 1818 Hasan bin Rahma made a series of calls for peace in Bombay, which were rejected by the British. The navies commanded by the rulers of Al-Qasimi during this period amounted to approximately 60 large ships, each carrying from 80 to 300 people, as well as 40 small ships stationed in othernearby ports.
British colonization
In November 1819, the British undertook an expedition against Al-Qasimi under the command of Major General William Keir Grant, heading for Ras al-Khaimah with a platoon of 3,000 soldiers, supported by a number of warships. The British made an offer to Said bin Sultan of Muscat, offering him to become the ruler of the Pirate Coast if he agreed to help the British in their expedition. He sent a military force of 600 men and two ships. It is worth saying that it was since then that the country has not settled territorial disputes with treaty Oman. So, the Omani exclave has been located inside the territory of the UAE since that time.
After the fall of Ras Al Khaimah and the final surrender of Daya Fort, the British established a garrison of 800 sepoys and artillery in Ras Al Khaimah before visiting Jazirat Al Hamra, which was deemed abandoned. They continued to destroy the fortifications and capital ships of Umm al-Qaiwain, Ajman, Fasht, Sharjah, Abu Khale and Dubai. Ten ships that had taken refuge in Bahrain were also destroyed.
As a result of this campaign, the following year, a peace treaty was signed with all the sheikhs of the coastal communities - the so-called "General" naval treaty of 1820.
Prohibition of slavery
Following the 1820 agreement was the "Agreement for the Prohibition of the Export of Slaves from Africa on Board Vessels Owned by Bahrain and the Right to Trade". By this time, some small principalities were included in larger neighboring states, andAmong the signatories were Sheikhs Sultan bin Saqr of Ras Al Khaimah, Maktoum of Dubai, Abdulaziz of Ajman, Abdullah bin Rashid of Umm Al Qaiwain, and Saeed bin Tahnoun of Abu Dhabi.
The treaty guaranteed safety only to British ships and did not prevent coastal wars between tribes. As a result, raids continued intermittently until 1835, when the sheikhs agreed not to take part in hostilities at sea for one year. The truce was renewed every year until 1853. At that time, both the British and the Arabs traded through the Persian Gulf. On the map, it is located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.
Eternal Peace
In 1853, the "Perpetual Maritime Truce" banned any acts of aggression at sea and was signed by Abdullah bin Rashid of Umm El Qiwain, Hamed bin Rashid of Ajman, Saeed bin Butti of Dubai, Saeed bin Tahnoun (known as "leader of the benis") and Sultan bin Saqr (known as "leader of the hosmeys"). Another obligation to suppress the slave trade was signed in 1856, and then in 1864 with the "Supplementary Article to the Truce of the Sea, providing for the protection of the telegraph line and stations, dated 1864". The Imamate of Oman did not participate in this truce.
Insulation
The "Exclusive Agreement" signed in 1892 obliged the rulers not to enter into "any agreement or correspondence with any power other than the Government of Great Britain". In addition, the agreement obliged the sheikhs to refuse representatives of other countries to visit their state. Alsoit was supposed to prohibit any action with the land (assignment, sale, lease, etc.) with everyone except the British government. In return, the British promised to protect the Treaty Coast from any aggression at sea and to help in the event of a land attack.
Remarkably, the treaties with the British were of a maritime nature, and the true rulers were free to manage their internal affairs, although they often involved the British (and their naval firepower) in increasing disputes with each other and with other countries, like Oman. Relations between Oman and the UAE have been so complicated for many years that they sometimes reach hostility.
Disputes between the Arab emirs and Oman were often associated with debts to British and Indian companies. In the late 19th and early 20th century, there were a number of changes in the status of the various emirates, such as Rams and Zia (now part of Ras Al Khaimah) were signatories of the original treaty of 1819, but were not recognized by the British as independent states.
While Fujairah, which today is one of the seven kingdoms that make up the United Arab Emirates, was not recognized as part of a unified state until 1952. Kalba, recognized by the British in 1936 as a single state, is today part of the emirate of Sharjah. The most interesting fact about the UAE is just the fact that this country, in essence, is part federation and part confederation of absolute monarchies.
The discovery of oil and modernity
In the middle of the 20th century, the British discovered oil fields in Arabia. They were immediately bought up by British oil concessions thanks to special agreements with local emirs. However, when the country gained independence, the oil fields were nationalized and distributed among the emirs. The money from the sale of oil allowed the UAE to become rich, becoming a powerful regional power.
