Chapter 1
Early History of the UAE
- The UAE is an Arab & Muslim Country
- Its people became muslims after prophet Muhammed
- During the prophet days the UAE was called Oman & Bahrain
The beginning of the Portuguese Invasion
- The Europeans looked to the Portuguese for routes
- Vasco De Gama & General Bu Kirk committed terrible massacres against Arabs & Muslims
- Portuguese destroyed Muscat & lopped off inhabitants noses
- They burned Khor Fakkan & destroyed it
- Many lives & assets of the Arabs were lost
- The Portuguese power dwindled due to the strong resistance of the people & conflict with other
European countries
- The Portuguese region came to an end by the British in 1766 AD
The emergence of power
- The people of he Emirates fought back
- Three famous tribes formed the resistance:
- Al Nahyan
- Al Maktoum
- Al Qassimi
- This power confronted the British fleets from their base in Ras Al-Kahimah
- Britain called for a series of agreements & treaties to reinforce its presence in the region
- In 1968, Britain ended its treaty relationships with the Costal Emirates
The role of Sheikh Zayed
- In 1966, Sheikh Zayed came to power in Abu Dhabi to establish the UAE as an sovereign nation
- The intent & will of people helped in the journey of independence
- Other Arab countries followed the same path, as they wanted freedom & independence
The Nonagon Union (union of the 9 Emirates)
- In 1969, Sheikh Zayed met with Sheikh Rashid and discussed the idea of the union
- Abu Dhabi & Dubai joined, they also invited the other emirates including Qatar & Bahrain.
- The nine emirates attempted to form a union but mid-1971 they were unable to agree
- Arab countries like: Syria, Iran, Algeria, & Yemen were against the union, because it will stand
in the way of a bigger union among all Arab countries in the region
- Bahrain & Qatar became independent in 1971
- On December 2, 1971, six emirates entered into a union called the UAE
- Ras Al-Kahimah joined early 1972
Reasons for the failure of the Nonagon Union:
1) The ambiguity of the union
- some countries wondered how 9 emirates can be joined while each had its own ruler
2) Bahrain & Qatar became indecent in 1971
, The first president of the UAE
- In 1971, Abu Dhabi’s ruler, Sheikh Zayed al Nahyan was elected as president and Dubai’s ruler,
Sheikh Rashid al Maktoum became Prime minister
- In 2004, Sheikh Zayed passed away, his eldest son & crown prince Sheikh Khalifa Al Nahyan
succeeded him in accordance with the constitution
Government
Type:
Federation:
- specified powers reserved for the UAE federal government
- other powers reserved to each individual emirate
Independence:
- December 2, 1971
Provisional constitution:
- December 2, 1971
Branches:
Executive: Legislative:
- 7 member supreme council of rulers - 40 member federal national council
- elects president & vice president - consultative only
- prime minister is selected by president
The geography of the UAE
- determines the type & nature of business, investments & any international business
- relevant to any decision taken by the international partners, no economical or political decisions
can be made outside the scope of geography
- location of the UAE is extremely important & strategically located within the region
The geographic features:
- over 2/3 of the population of the world lives within 8 hours flight from Dubai
- 1/3 lives within 4 hours
The seven emirates
Abu Dhabi, Ruler: Sharjah, Ruler:
- Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan - Sheikh Dr. Sultan Al Qasimi
- capital of the UAE & forms 86.77% of the UAE - relates to location in the east (reason for name)
- many antelopes lived there (reason for name) - known as the capital of islamic culture
- federal institution & embassies (famous for)
Dubai, Ruler:
Ajman, Ruler:
- Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashed Al Maktoum - Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Alnuaimi
- old name is Al Wall - smallest of 7 emirates
- known as the capital of islamic finance - Al ajmani family used to live in it (reason for
- first islamic bank is Dubai Islamic Bank
name)
- known for culture & real estate projects
Early History of the UAE
- The UAE is an Arab & Muslim Country
- Its people became muslims after prophet Muhammed
- During the prophet days the UAE was called Oman & Bahrain
The beginning of the Portuguese Invasion
- The Europeans looked to the Portuguese for routes
- Vasco De Gama & General Bu Kirk committed terrible massacres against Arabs & Muslims
- Portuguese destroyed Muscat & lopped off inhabitants noses
- They burned Khor Fakkan & destroyed it
- Many lives & assets of the Arabs were lost
- The Portuguese power dwindled due to the strong resistance of the people & conflict with other
European countries
- The Portuguese region came to an end by the British in 1766 AD
The emergence of power
- The people of he Emirates fought back
- Three famous tribes formed the resistance:
- Al Nahyan
- Al Maktoum
- Al Qassimi
- This power confronted the British fleets from their base in Ras Al-Kahimah
- Britain called for a series of agreements & treaties to reinforce its presence in the region
- In 1968, Britain ended its treaty relationships with the Costal Emirates
The role of Sheikh Zayed
- In 1966, Sheikh Zayed came to power in Abu Dhabi to establish the UAE as an sovereign nation
- The intent & will of people helped in the journey of independence
- Other Arab countries followed the same path, as they wanted freedom & independence
The Nonagon Union (union of the 9 Emirates)
- In 1969, Sheikh Zayed met with Sheikh Rashid and discussed the idea of the union
- Abu Dhabi & Dubai joined, they also invited the other emirates including Qatar & Bahrain.
- The nine emirates attempted to form a union but mid-1971 they were unable to agree
- Arab countries like: Syria, Iran, Algeria, & Yemen were against the union, because it will stand
in the way of a bigger union among all Arab countries in the region
- Bahrain & Qatar became independent in 1971
- On December 2, 1971, six emirates entered into a union called the UAE
- Ras Al-Kahimah joined early 1972
Reasons for the failure of the Nonagon Union:
1) The ambiguity of the union
- some countries wondered how 9 emirates can be joined while each had its own ruler
2) Bahrain & Qatar became indecent in 1971
, The first president of the UAE
- In 1971, Abu Dhabi’s ruler, Sheikh Zayed al Nahyan was elected as president and Dubai’s ruler,
Sheikh Rashid al Maktoum became Prime minister
- In 2004, Sheikh Zayed passed away, his eldest son & crown prince Sheikh Khalifa Al Nahyan
succeeded him in accordance with the constitution
Government
Type:
Federation:
- specified powers reserved for the UAE federal government
- other powers reserved to each individual emirate
Independence:
- December 2, 1971
Provisional constitution:
- December 2, 1971
Branches:
Executive: Legislative:
- 7 member supreme council of rulers - 40 member federal national council
- elects president & vice president - consultative only
- prime minister is selected by president
The geography of the UAE
- determines the type & nature of business, investments & any international business
- relevant to any decision taken by the international partners, no economical or political decisions
can be made outside the scope of geography
- location of the UAE is extremely important & strategically located within the region
The geographic features:
- over 2/3 of the population of the world lives within 8 hours flight from Dubai
- 1/3 lives within 4 hours
The seven emirates
Abu Dhabi, Ruler: Sharjah, Ruler:
- Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan - Sheikh Dr. Sultan Al Qasimi
- capital of the UAE & forms 86.77% of the UAE - relates to location in the east (reason for name)
- many antelopes lived there (reason for name) - known as the capital of islamic culture
- federal institution & embassies (famous for)
Dubai, Ruler:
Ajman, Ruler:
- Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashed Al Maktoum - Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Alnuaimi
- old name is Al Wall - smallest of 7 emirates
- known as the capital of islamic finance - Al ajmani family used to live in it (reason for
- first islamic bank is Dubai Islamic Bank
name)
- known for culture & real estate projects
