UNITEDARABEMIRATES

50years of the

WIL IANDER FRANÇA

SALOMÃO

Preface by the Consu l Genera l of the Un i ted Arab Emi rates

UN

ITED A

RA

B EM

IRA

TES

ISBN 978-65-5589-224-6

the United Arab Emirates be-gan to celebrate its Golden Jubilee, demonstrating all the progress made in recent years, the development of public pol-icies aimed at well-being, di-versity of the economy, the pro-motion of culture, security and religious tolerance.In this book, the reader will be able to access the fascinating history of this country, since an-cient times when the Gulf trade routes attracted the attention of great empires, the wars fought by the Europeans with the Arab tribes to gain control of their territories and the efforts of the Rulers to organize the bases re-sponsible for the foundation of a modern nation.

IN 2021,

PhD and Master in International Law by the Pontifical Catholic Universi-ty of Minas Gerais (PUC-MINAS). Graduated in Law from the University of Itauna, Brazil. Professor of Inter-national Law and Human Rights. In 2016 attended the prestigious Sum-mer Course of the Hague Academy of International Law of the United Na-tions International Court of Justice in The Hague, The Netherlands. In 2017 attended the United Nations Module for North Africa and the Middle East in Tunisia; in the same year attended the International Security Course at the Clingendael Institute of Interna-tional Relations of the Netherlands. He is the author of books on the conflicts between Palestinians and Israelis, and author of the book “Dis-covering the United Arab Emirates” and “Abu Dhabi”, both published in Portuguese and English versions.

Speak with the author:wil iandersalomao@gmail .com

WILIANDER FRANÇA SALOMÃO

For 150 years the seven emirates remained under British rule in the Arabian Gulf, where many of their development aspirations and achievements could not come about because of the limitations that rule im-posed. During that time, the provisions of this system prevented local Rulers from entering into trade agree-ments and alliances with other countries, and the Gulf has remained closed to the world ever since.Unexpectedly, the UK Government announced the withdrawal from the region, leaving the emirates by themselves. Given the period of uncertainty, it was necessary to find a viable solution to the challenges that were to come. As a result, the first measures for the foundation of the United Arab Emirates were born out of a historic meeting, in the wilderness of the desert between the borders of Abu Dhabi and Dubai, having two leaders, Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid, decided to form a bilateral union and invite all the Rulers to establish a federation system as a new country.This new book covers the entire journey to the founding of the United Arab Emirates correspond-ing to the ancient era of the British Protectorate in the 19th century, the domain of Europeans over the Gulf and its trade routes, the negotiation process-es for the creation of the state, the present polices towards the future and, in 2021 the celebrations for the 50 years of the United Arab Emirates will begin.

EVERY NATION HAS ITS STORY.

years

of the

Plácido Arraes

Tales Leon de Marco

Bárbara Rodrigues

Letícia Robini(Pattern by Freepik)

Letícia Robini (Pattern by Freepik)

Chief Editor

Editor

Editorial Coordinator

Book Cover

Design

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may bereproduced by any means without the prior authorization of D’Plácido Group.

W W W . E D I T O R A D P L A C I D O . C O M . B R

Belo HorizonteAv. Brasil, 1843,

Savassi, Belo Horizonte, MGTel.: 31 3261 2801

CEP 30140-007

São PauloAv. Paulista, 2444, 8º andar, cj 82Bela Vista – São Paulo, SPCEP 01310-933

Copyright © 2021, D’Plácido Editora.Copyright © 2021, Wiliander França Salomão

Catalogação na Publicação (CIP)

Bibliotecária responsável: Fernanda Gomes de Souza CRB-6/2472

This book is dedicated to the Emirati people.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

My special thanks to the Consulate of the United Arab Emirates in Brazil, especially to Mr. George for his assistance, and mostly to His Excellency the Consul General, Mr. Ibra-him Salem Al Alawi, who has always supported my work in all possible ways, being one of the most generous people I know. Shookran Jazilan!

I also thank my family and friends for being a constant source of support in my life.

I thank God who is always by my side, inspiring my proj-ects, and being a constant source of protection.

INDEX

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS 15

AUTHOR’S NOTE 17

PREFACE 19

INTRODUCTION 21

Part 1 HISTORY

1 THE ARABIAN GULF 27

1 Historical aspects about the Arabian Peninsula 27

2 Arab territories under the British Protectorate system 31

2.1 Kuwait 322.2 Bahrain 352.3 Qatar 38

2.4 Sultanate of Oman 412.5 The emirates 45

a) Abu Dhabi 45b) Dubai 46c) Sharjah 47d) Ajman 49e) Umm Al Quwain 50f) Ras Al Khaimah 50g) Fujairah 52

3 Characteristics of trade routes in the Gulf 53

4 The influence of ancient empires and the spread of Islam in the Arabian Peninsula 56

5 Ottoman Empire in the Gulf 59

Part 2 EUROPEAN DOMAIN

2 THE EUROPEAN RULE OVER THE GULF 65

1 Comprehension note 65

2 The arrival of the Portuguese in the East 66

2.1 Portuguese India 662.2 The conquest of Hormuz and

hegemony over the region 67

3 Alliance between the United Kingdom and the Netherlands with Persia 72

4 The Battle of Hormuz: the ultimate Portuguese defeat 74

5 Trade influence and rivalries between British and Dutch 76

6 British conquest over the Arabian territories 79

Part 3 BRITISH TRUCIAL SYSTEM

3 THE TRUCIAL SYSTEM AND THE FORMATION OF THE BRITISH PROTECTORATE 85

1 The British East India Company 85

2 The rivalries between the British and the Al Qasimi tribe: defeat of the last Arab resistance against European imperialism 90

2.1 Background 902.2 The invasion of Ras Al Khaimah 93

3 The United Kingdom’s agreements with the emirates: from the Pirate Coast to the Trucial States 94

3.1 1820 General Maritime Treaty 963.2 Treaty of Maritime Peace in

Perpetuity in 1835 and 1853 983.3 1892 Exclusivity Treaty 99

4 The institute of the Protectorate 102

5 British Residence in the Gulf 105

5.1 Roles and duties of the Resident and Political Agent 110

Part 4 THE UNION OF THE EMIRATES

4 THE FOUNDATION OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 117

1 Events of influence in the emirates in the first decades of the 20th century 117

2 The Trucial States Rulers Council 126

2.1 Formation and mission 126

3 The UK’s decision to withdraw from the Arabian Peninsula: the end of the Protectorate and the Trucial System 132

3.1 The official announcement and reactions among the Sheikhs 132

4 The Journey for the achievement of the Federation of Emirates 138

4.1 Initial considerations 1394.2 The bilateral union between

Abu Dhabi and Dubai 1424.3 Dubai Agreement: the Federation of Nine Emirates 1464.4 Preparatory meetings to conclude the

Union: challenges and uncertainties 1484.5 Elaboration of the terms of the Treaty of

Friendship between the United Kingdom and the Federation 156

5 The creation of the United Arab Emirates 159

5.1 Declaration of establishment of the Federation 1615.2 The emirate of Ras Al Khaimah

becomes part of the Union 1645.3 Admission as a member of the United

Nations and the Arab League 1655.4 The UAE’s foreign policy 170

5.4.1 Bilateral relations with Brazil 176

Part 5 DEVELOPING THE FEDERATION

5 THE CHALLENGES TO CONSOLIDATE THE UNION 187

1 Crisis with Iran: the occupation of the islands of Abu Musa, Greater Tumb and Lesser Tunb 187

2 The Coup d’état in Sharjah 197

3 National defense forces 200

4 Establishing government institutions, symbols and national identity 204

4.1 National identity 2044.2 Symbols and holidays 2064.3 Flag and national anthem 2074.5 Federal government bodies

and international relations 2094.6 Means of communication 2114.7 The Federal Constitution becomes permanent 2144.8 The first university and national culture 216

Part 6 TOWARDS THE FUTURE

6 THE GOLDEN JUBILEE: CELEBRATING 50 YEARS 223

1 Vision 2021: National Strategy for Economic Innovation 223

2 The initiative for the 50th anniversary celebrations 227

3 Projects in development 229

3.1 The new emblem of the nation 2293.2 Thematic subjects and guidelines 2323.3 Higher Committees 2343.4 The Hope Probe to Mars 2373.5 Launching Unit 1 of the Barakah

Nuclear Power Plant 238

3.6 Planning the first Arab mission to the Moon in 2024 239

3.7 New UAE law to ensure gender- equal wages for men and women 242

3.8 Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence 244

3.9 Ministry of Education 50x50 Initiative: the reformulation of the education system for the future 246

3.10 National policy for young people: creation of the Emirati Youth Council and the Federal Youth Authority 249

4 Vision 2071: towards the 100 years 252

FINAL CONSIDERATIONS 257

BIBLIOGRAPHY 261

ANNEX 275

1 General Treaty with the Arab Tribes of the Arabian Gulf – 1820 277

2 Abu Dhabi and Dubai agreement 283

3 Dubai Agreement 1968 287

4 Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, and the Union of Arab Emirates 293

5 Ras Al Khaimah union document to the United Arab Emirates 297

6 Apostolic journey of his holiness Pope Francis to the United Arab Emirates (3-5 february 2019): a document on human fraternity for world peace and living together 299

15

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS

ADIA Abu Dhabi Investment Authority

ADNOC Abu Dhabi National Oil Company

UNGA United Nations General Assembly

GCC Gulf Cooperation Council

UAE United Arab Emirates

USA United States of America

UN United Nations

OPEC Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries

RAK Ras Al Khaimah

UAQ Umm Al Quwain

UK United Kingdom

WWI World War I

WWII World War II

17

AUTHOR’S NOTE

My research and studies on the United Arab Emirates allowed me to launch another book as a commemorative edi-tion for the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Federation that took place on December 2, 1971. This is the third project dedicated to this nation, started by the book “Discovering the United Arab Emirates” in 2019 followed by the book “Abu Dha-bi” in 2020. This new one aims to tell the history and countless challenges in the difficult times to establish a new country in the Arab World in a short time, right after the announcement of the UK Government to withdraw its troops from the Arabian Gulf.

Based on this, this new book addresses the entire journey towards the founding of the country, corresponding to the period of the beginning of the British Protectorate in the 19th century, whose colonial policy directly influenced all Arab territories, in addition to the negotiations between the Rulers so that a nation could exist.

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• W I L I A N D E R F R A N Ç A S A LO M ÃO •

In the year 2021, the United Arab Emirates started a series of measures to celebrate its Golden Jubilee and for that reason, several events are being prepared to spread the country’s image abroad and highlighting all progress made in recent years, demonstrating its commitment to the elaboration of public policies for the well-being, the diversity of the economy, the promotion of culture, security and religious tolerance.

In this book, the reader will be able to know the fasci-nating history of this country, since ancient times when the Gulf trade routes were under the domain of great empires, the wars fought by the Europeans with the Arab tribes and the efforts and challenges of the Rulers to set up the basis that was responsible for the foundation of a great, modern and promising nation.

Have a good reading!

The author

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PREFACE

For the second time, Professor Wiliander Salomao entrusts me with the task of writing a preface to his work. It is an honor.

In his previous works, “Discovering the United Arab Emirates” and “Abu Dhabi”, Professor Salomao informs us, combining the academic expertise and the lightness of good writing, about the UAE’s rich history to this day.

This time, in “The 50 years of the United Arab Emirates”, the professor directs his clear and objective thinking towards the first fifty years of the journey of a country that embraces peace, internally and externally, and offers prosperity to its citizens and residents. This book, which the reader has in hand - or on the screen of a digital equipment - is trustworthy to the events and constitutes mandatory information for everyone who wishes to know, in a solid way, the great efforts of Sheik Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may his soul rest in peace, the founding father of the UAE.

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• W I L I A N D E R F R A N Ç A S A LO M ÃO •

Professor Salomao’s research also illustrates what we, the sons and daughters of Sheik Zayed, have done with his teach-ings. From respect for women to care for the environment, from the importance of education to the tolerance and, above all, from the feeling that it is our duty to dream of an even better country. We owe it all to Sheik Zayed, may God have mercy upon him.

So, dear Professor Salomao, on behalf of the United Arab Emirates, I thank you for your dedication to the history and cul-ture of my country and, inshallah, may our partnership continues.

São Paulo, December 2020.

Ibrahim Salem Al AlawiConsul General of the United Arab Emirates in Brazil

21

INTRODUCTION

Every nation has its own story.The UAE has an ancient civilization dating back to 6,000

BC. For centuries, the Arabian Gulf is home to tribes and Foreign Powers passed through the region and established a domain over them, since the arrival of the Portuguese in the 16th and 17th centuries, followed by the French, Dutch, and later the British.

One of the great features of the Emirati people is to be moved by the feeling of overcoming challenges. Since the ear-ly and present times, the history of the United Arab Emirates are based on pillars of wisdom, courage, deep faith, nobility and innovation.

This narrative can be confirmed by a historic event that took place on July 22, 2020: the United Arab Emirates were the first Arab country to launch a space probe towards Planet Mars with its arrival in February 2021, a year the country will

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• W I L I A N D E R F R A N Ç A S A LO M ÃO •

celebrate 50 years of existence and as a way to celebrate its success. These and other examples demonstrate the innovative spirit of these people since the long journey of founding the Union over the decades.

During those times, all emirates were called the Trucial States, as independent territories under the British Protec-torate since the 19th century. Among the provisions of the signed agreements that made the Trucial System effective, the Rulers were prevented from joining other countries, allow trade agreements and alliances without permission from the Government of the United Kingdom, where the Arabian Gulf has remained closed to the world ever since.

It was by the imposition of the 1892 Treaty that exclusive rights over the Gulf territories were granted to the United King-dom that it would be responsible for controlling its security and international relations. In January 1968, they announced that would abandon the emirates on their own and be exposed to the many dangers in the region.

In that sense, when the Rulers of the emirates decided to unite in a sovereign state through a Federation, several an-alysts, politicians, the press and the British itself said that this project of Union would not happen, it would be something impossible because those people did not have the capacity to rule themselves and to create a solid institutional basis and to abdicate their independence for a new state.

The founding Rulers were defined by their bravery and vision to follow the path towards the Union and this is how the dream of unity became reality, and able to set up the future, security, stability, and progress of the nation.

Indeed, it was undeniable that there were countless chal-lenges for the country to be created, but there was one leader in particular who already had the desire for unity, that leader was Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Ruler of Abu Dha-

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• 5 0 Y E A R S O F T H E U N I T E D A R A B E M I R AT E S •

bi and the nation’s first President. Regarding the reasons for the Federation, Zayed once mentioned that “union leads to strength and division leads to weakness”. This decision was taken to by the Arab leaders highlighting the fact that a union and cooperation was in the belief that together they were stron-ger and would go through the same obstacles and challenges without the presence and protection of the UK in those times.

At the end of three years, what was impossible, as had been said, happened: a new country was formed on the Ara-bian Peninsula at the desire of its Rulers. The United Arab Emirates emerged with a promise to become one of the best countries in the world. The journey of establishing this nation has come a long way with fears and doubts, but hope has moved everyone towards a new destiny. The Rulers were determined to relinquish their sovereignty to the new state where the emirates would be part of a single nation.

From the moment of its foundation, all the measures adopted over the following decades were responsible for the progress and innovations, in which all the achievements showed that the word “impossible” did not exist and the country has been developed under this pillar.

UNITEDARABEMIRATES

50years of the

WIL IANDER FRANÇA

SALOMÃO

Preface by the Consu l Genera l of the Un i ted Arab Emi rates

UN

ITED A

RA

B EM

IRA

TES

ISBN 978-65-5589-224-6

the United Arab Emirates be-gan to celebrate its Golden Jubilee, demonstrating all the progress made in recent years, the development of public pol-icies aimed at well-being, di-versity of the economy, the pro-motion of culture, security and religious tolerance.In this book, the reader will be able to access the fascinating history of this country, since an-cient times when the Gulf trade routes attracted the attention of great empires, the wars fought by the Europeans with the Arab tribes to gain control of their territories and the efforts of the Rulers to organize the bases re-sponsible for the foundation of a modern nation.

IN 2021,

PhD and Master in International Law by the Pontifical Catholic Universi-ty of Minas Gerais (PUC-MINAS). Graduated in Law from the University of Itauna, Brazil. Professor of Inter-national Law and Human Rights. In 2016 attended the prestigious Sum-mer Course of the Hague Academy of International Law of the United Na-tions International Court of Justice in The Hague, The Netherlands. In 2017 attended the United Nations Module for North Africa and the Middle East in Tunisia; in the same year attended the International Security Course at the Clingendael Institute of Interna-tional Relations of the Netherlands. He is the author of books on the conflicts between Palestinians and Israelis, and author of the book “Dis-covering the United Arab Emirates” and “Abu Dhabi”, both published in Portuguese and English versions.

Speak with the author:wil iandersalomao@gmail .com

WILIANDER FRANÇA SALOMÃO

For 150 years the seven emirates remained under British rule in the Arabian Gulf, where many of their development aspirations and achievements could not come about because of the limitations that rule im-posed. During that time, the provisions of this system prevented local Rulers from entering into trade agree-ments and alliances with other countries, and the Gulf has remained closed to the world ever since.Unexpectedly, the UK Government announced the withdrawal from the region, leaving the emirates by themselves. Given the period of uncertainty, it was necessary to find a viable solution to the challenges that were to come. As a result, the first measures for the foundation of the United Arab Emirates were born out of a historic meeting, in the wilderness of the desert between the borders of Abu Dhabi and Dubai, having two leaders, Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid, decided to form a bilateral union and invite all the Rulers to establish a federation system as a new country.This new book covers the entire journey to the founding of the United Arab Emirates correspond-ing to the ancient era of the British Protectorate in the 19th century, the domain of Europeans over the Gulf and its trade routes, the negotiation process-es for the creation of the state, the present polices towards the future and, in 2021 the celebrations for the 50 years of the United Arab Emirates will begin.

EVERY NATION HAS ITS STORY.

years

of the