Background

The UAE

On February 28, 1968, the seven rulers of the United Arab Emirates present member states and those of Bahrain and Qatar, who later opted for separate independence agreed in principle to form a federation of Arab Emirates. Cdiscussions began and continued for three years. Britain’s decision to abandon its Gulf commitments and end treaties with the Gulf rulers by the end of 1971 helped to speed the rulers’ decision, taken in July 1971 to form the United Arab Emirates.
 

The Federation of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is the youngest independent state in the Arab World. The UAE was proclaimed as an independent state on December 2, 1971. It comprises 7 emirates once known collectively as the Trucial states: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras al-Khaimah, Umm al Qaiwain, Fujairah and Ajman. The total UAE population was estimated at the end of the year 1980 to be 1,043,065 living on an area of about 33,000 square miles. All the Emirates are coastal settlements. The fast increase in population is due to natural increase and immigration of workers and their families from Arab States, especially Oman, and from India, Pakistan and Iran. The new immigrants are drawn by the UAE’s prosperity rovided by its petroleum wealth, high standard of living, social services, education, and the better lifestyle.

The UAE is located South West Asia, South East the Arab Peninsula, forming a triangle; its 700 km western coast overlooking the Arab Gulf, part of its northern side overlooking the Gulf of Oman 90 km long, the eastern and southern sides facing the Saudi desert. It is located between latitudes (22º 29”) and (26º 4”) North of the equator and between altitudes (51º 5”) and (56º 23”) East Greanetch which means that most of its land is located in a sub tropical area where Cancer latitude (23º 5”) crosses over its southern third part. It is exposed to vertical sun during the summer time and most of the fall and spring seasons.

The temperature is high all year round. Average temperature is 35º between May and September and 18º between December and March. February is the coldest month of the year. Evaporation of water is high especially in coastal areas. Precipitation does not exceed 120 mm per year. These climate conditions have a tremendous impact on the forms of life and activities in the region. The climate of the area could be classified as Hot Arid with the lack of significant precipitation. Clear sky and the lack of vegetation enhance the heat effect not only during the day time but also well into the short evening hours especially during the summer season when day hours exceed 16 hours. Humidity is high because of evaporation from the nearly closed Arabian Gulf reaching 90% in some areas near the coast during the summer time making temperature unbearable.

Geographically the country is divided into four areas: the mountain zone in the East, gravel plains west of the mountains, the coastal strip where most of the towns are located and the great desert of the interior. The topography is mostly desert land and sand dunes covering more than 75% of the area which is the end of the Empty Quarter of the Saudi Desert. The Eastern coastal stretch is continuous from Kalba in the South to Khorfakan in the North. The Western coastal stretch starts as narrow as 1 km South of Sham and widens gradually towards the North with several islands and coral reefs in the Gulf.

Traces of long lost civilization over 4500 years old have been discovered recently, mainly in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Ras al-Khaimah. The remains disclosed fine pottery decorated with such designs as the humped Brahmin bulls of India. These and other signs point to ancient trade links with what are now Iran and Pakistan and with the river valleys of India. Historical remains dating back to 3000 BC. show links with ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. Bedouins and seafarers were the inhabitants when Vasco de Gama discovered route of India in 1497, bringing the Portuguese traders and freebooters who monopolized trade with Europe until about 1600. Turks, Dutch, French and British fought and competed for commercial advantages, but the British East India company on behalf of the British Empire, gradually became dominant in the wars against the Arab seafarers.