
These photos date back to December 2nd 1971, that’s when the Trucial States, or Trucial Oman, announced the formation of the United Arab Emirates. The UAE is such an amazing country, in no time it became the center of the Middle East, and managed to attract world’s attention with unusual projects and global investments and acquisitions.

From left to right: Khaled Al-Qasimi – Sharjah, Rashid Al Maktoum – Dubai, Zayed Al Nahyan – Abu Dhabi, Rashid Al Nuaimi – Ajman, Mohammed Al Sharqi – Fujairah, and Ahmad Al Mu’alla – Umm Al-Quwain.

HH the late Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan signs a truce with Sir Jeffry Arthur on behalf of England.

On December 2nd, leaders of 6 Emirates met to announce the rise of the United Arab Emirates.

found it in Al-Arabi magazine








Thanks for the amazing photos! I was fortunate to have seen Sheikh Zayed and lived in Abu Dhabi under his rule. The great man will be missed forever.
thank you UAE Students
glad you liked them, and I like to say, you are fortunate.
These are great – thanks for sharing them with us!
you are welcomed
Wowy.. thanks Samer for the heads up.. these pictures are beautiful.. and especially the fact that you mentioned that only 6 emirates joined in the fateful day in 1971.. it was only till 1972 that Ras Al Khaimah joined as the 7th emirate to give us the modern UAE.
Out of interest Bahrain and Qatar were supposed to join but Saudi put an end to that..
Yislamu 2ideek Samer.
thanx BuJ for the information, first time I hear that Qatar and Bahrain were supposed to join the United Emirates, it would of been great!
thanx for the information
Thanks Samer!
Interestingly it was called Sa7el Oman and not the Arabian or Persian Gulf.. lol.. them Arabs just can’t stand them 3ajam
Anyways, I’ve dug up the following info from Western sources.. I imagine Arab sources might be more racy!
“In 1968, the U.K. announced its decision, reaffirmed in March 1971, to end the treaty relationships with the seven Trucial Sheikhdoms which had been, together with Bahrain and Qatar, under British protection. The nine attempted to form a union of Arab emirates, but by mid-1971 they were unable to agree on terms of union, even though the termination date of the British treaty relationship was the end of 1971. Bahrain became independent in August and Qatar in September 1971. When the British-Trucial Sheikhdoms treaty expired on December 1, 1971, they became fully independent. On December 2, 1971, six of them entered into a union called the United Arab Emirates. The seventh, Ras al-Khaimah, joined in early 1972.”
Source: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5444.htm
Other sites of note:
http://www.archiveeditions.co.uk/titledetails.asp?tid=90
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/country_profiles/828687.stm (very basic but rather useful reference)
Keep up the good work bro!
Wow, so detailed
but useful of course.
Hey the digitally restored image looks great! Check out this website for digital film and audio restoration as well as asset management especially for the Middle East.
http://www.digitalrestorationme.com
They also have a lot of samples on the past of the Middle East. Let me know what you’ll think!
Has anyone noticed the great digital restoration on the last photo? check out this website I came across:
http://www.digitalrestorationme.com
They have some great samples on there.