THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES A MODERN HISTORY - INTRODUCTION

The British withdrawl from Gulf in 1971 brought to an end the British Imperial era in the history of the Trucial States and marked the birth of the United Arab Emirates . This book establishes the political, social economic and cultural heritage of the UAE and explains the formative issues in the development of the new state.

From 1892 to 1971 the history of the Gulf was determined by the British presence. Initially the region was regarded by the British as no more than a part of the strategic defence of india, but by 1945, oil and international air communication had given the region a new strategic importance. This book examines both the early India Office policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of the region and the circumstances after 1947 which prompted the Foreign Office to interfere in certain internal issues.

The second half of the volume seeks to explain the development of Arab nationalism,the growth of Iranian activities and the relations of the Trucial States with their Western neigbours, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The last chapter provides an historical explanation for the present interstate boundries and political geography of the region.