The United Arab Emirates (UAE) comprises the seven member states of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah. The city of Abu Dhabi is the capital.
The total area of the country is about 83,600 square km. Abu Dhabi is by far the largest Emirate, occupying approximately 87% of the total area of UAE territory. Dubai, with an area of 3885 square km, is the second largest Emirate. Situated on the banks of the Dubai Creek, a natural inlet from the Arabian Gulf which divides the city into the Deira district to its north and Bur Dubai to its south, the city ranks as the UAE's most important port and commercial center.
The UAE has 700 km of coastline, of which 100 km are on the Gulf of Oman. Along the Arabian Gulf coast there are offshore islands, coral reefs and sabkha or salt marshes. Stretches of gravel plain and sandy desert characterize the inland region.
To the east, the Hajjar Mountains lie close to the Gulf of Oman and form a backbone through the Mussandam Peninsula. The western interior of the country, most of it in Abu Dhabi, consists mainly of desert interspersed with oases.
Around 7 to 8 thousand years ago, the first modern men arrived in the area. These were hunters and fishermen whose flint tools can still be found in the desert today.
There is the first evidence of a settled population in the Al Ain area. This dates from almost five thousand years ago and it eventually became the crossroads of major land trade routes. The climate still appeared to be more temperate than now as these people cultivated millet and other food grains. The reconstructed tower at Hili, part of Al Ain, with its fine carvings and relief's, dates from this period.
The Semi-nomadic fishermen of earlier centuries must have developed boat building skills that enabled them to travel up the Arabian Gulf and records show that these vessels sailing in 2000 BC were very similar in design and materials to dhows in use today.
In 1820 Britain signed a series of agreements with the sheikhs of the towns along the coast, focusing on the need to preserve a truce at sea during the pearling season. From those agreements came the name 'The Trucial Coast' as the UAE was known until the establishment of the Federation in December 1971.
Thanks to the agreements with Britain, conflict at sea gradually disappeared. One beneficiary of the maritime peace was Dubai, which under the leadership of the Sheikhs of the Al Maktoum family, was able to persuade the main Indian-based British steamship to use Dubai instead of Bandar Lingeh on the Iranian coast as its main port of call in the lower Arabian Gulf. As a result local pearly merchants were able to extend their commercial ties, and during the 1920s Dubai merchants were prominent in the Bombay pearl markets.
Fortunately at around the same time, oil was discovered in the Arabian Gulf, and by 1939 concession agreements had been signed with exploration beginning shortly after the Second World War.
In 1968 the British told the seven rulers that they would renounce their treaties with the Arabian Gulf states by the end of 1971. HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the ruler of Abu Dhabi, and the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai, immediately agreed to federate their two emirates and invited others to join, leading to the establishment of the United Arab Emirates with HH Sheikh Zayed as its President.
The people of the UAE are Arabs and Muslim, belonging to a host of large and small tribes that have, in may cases, lived in the country since long before the relevations of Islam well over a thousand years ago.
Three types of tribes existed:
Abu Dhabi, the federal capital of the U.A.E. is located approximately 170 km to the west of Dubai. The journey by road takes about two hours on the connecting highway. It is also the largest (67,00 km2) and wealthiest of the Emirates, with a population of around 900,000.
Abu Dhabi, the Administrative Capital of the United Arab Emirates is known as "little New-York". With ultramodern high-rise buildings competing with each other upwards, long avenues of trees, perennial flowers in bloom, supplemented by numerous fountains and colourful streets, it is indeed a modern showpiece.
Prior to the discovery of Oil thirty years ago, the economy was based on fishing and pearl diving and on agriculture, with cultivation of dates and vegetables. The lifestyle of the people has completely changed since, and modernization has made Abu Dhabi a major tourist attraction, with its share of high-class hotels and ultra- modern allied facilities.
Within recorded history, Dubai started as a fishing village probably some time in the 18th century. In 1833 a group of about 800 people of the Al Bu Falasah subsection of the Bani Yas seceded from Abu Dhabi and settled in Dubai. The leaders of the exodus, Ubaid bin Saeed and Maktoum bin Buti, remained joint leaders until the death of the former in 1836. Maktoum bind Buti ruled until he died in 1852, establishing the dynasty of the Al Maktoum rulers in Dubai. Maktoum and most of his successors usually followed a policy of good understanding with the British authorities in the Arabian Gulf.
Dubai's history really began in the 1830s when the settlement started to grow and gain some importance. At that time neighbouring Sharjah was the main trading centre on the Trucial Coast, and for the rest of the 19th century Dubai was simply a pearling village with a merchant community.
The Dubai Creek provided one of the few safe anchorage's along the southern coast of the Arabian Gulf and served as a haven for dhows despite its hazardous entrance. It was the starting and finishing point for pearling expeditions. The turn of the 19th century was considered the golden age of the pearly industry. Three thousand vessels were employed in the trade, leaving harbour in may and not returning until mid-September. Fishing, too, was an important occupation. The Arabian Gulf's warm and shallow waters supported a wide variety of marine life and dhows were built on the foreshore of Dubai Creek.
By the turn of the 20th century, Dubai was sufficiently prosperous as a port to attract settlers from Iran, India and Baluchistan. The souq on the Deira side of the creek, with some 350 shops, was thought to be the largest on the coast.
The facilities for trade and free enterprise were enough to make Dubai a natural haven for merchants who left Bandar Lingeh on the Iranian coast after the introduction of high customs duties there is 1902.
Under the leadership of HH Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, who became Ruler in 1958, emphasis was placed on the development of Dubai's commercial potential. With that in mind, the late sheikh Rashid improved the facilities along the creek.
A building boom had begun along the creek before the discovery of oil near Dubai in 1966 and this increased in momentum once the revenue from the oil began to come in. Trade remained the foundation of the city's wealth, whilst other projects were developed over the nest 20 years. The airport became one of the busiest in the area, a large dry-dock complex was developed, the largest artificial port in the world was built at Jebel Ali and Dubai Aluminium Company (DUBAL), which has become the emirate's largest non-oil related industry, came on line in 1979.
Sharjah is the only Emirate in the U.A.E. with territory on both the country's east and west coasts. It is situated approximately 16 km to the northeast of Dubai. It takes 15 to 20 minutes to drive from the centre of Dubai city to the centre of Sharjah city. The population of this Emirate is around 435,000.
Sharjah is a fascinating mixture of old and new. Some of the best souks are to be found in this Emirate as are the most beautiful master-pieces of Arabic Architecture & Heritage in the U.A.E.
The smallest Emirate, Ajman is situated 8 km north of Sharjah and is 36 km from the city of Dubai with an area of only 260 km2 and a population of 133,000. The principal and traditional industries are fishing and dhow building. All the activity of Ajman has been concentrated over the years around the Y-shaped creek which in the past sheltered fishing boats seeking pearls and the construction yards which still make the traditional Arabic dhows and other wooden ships. The dhow construction yard of Ajman is the biggest in the U.A.E.
Geographically Umm Al-Quwain is the second smallest Emirate. It is located half-way between Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah, a distance of 50 km from Dubai. Total land area is 777 km2 and it has around 39,000 people.
The town of Umm Al-Quwain is situated on a deep creek. It has been known for its fishing tradition and still is one of the U.A.E.'s main fish suppliers.
The Emirate of Fujairah is 125 km to the east of Dubai. It is the only one of the seven Emirates wholly located on the Gulf of Oman coast. The journey by road from Dubai takes approximately one and half hours. Between the mountains and the shore is a fertile strip of land fed by water running off the mountains. This gives the emirate great agricultural potential.
Fujairah is the youngest of the Emirates being part of Sharjah Emirate until 1952 with 83000 inhabitants.
Located on the East Coast, it is one of the picturesque of the seven Emirates of the U.A.E. Bounded by long stretches of beaches, it is also blessed with towering mountains and "Wadis" or natural water sources, mysterious sand dunes and surrounded by lush greenery making this city a paradise for Naturalists and Tourists alike.
Ras Al-Khaimah is the northern most Emirate. The town is 100 km north of Dubai with population of 153,000. The Emirate has a long trading tradition. The ports of Ras Al Khaimah were the first in the Arabian Gulf and its sailors has a reputation of being excellent navigators.
Ras Al Khaimah has an area of only 1700 km2, but within there is as much variety in scenery and natural resources as if any of its neighbors.
Eas Al Khaimah - "head of the tent" in Arabic - refers to the days when a light was placed at the highest point to guide ships home to port.
Life in the Arabian Gulf, as in all Arab countries, is dictated to a large extent by the dominant religion, Islam. Islam is a monotheistic religion; it is based on the belief that there is only one God. In this respect it can be compared with the Christian and Jewish faiths. Islam and Christianity also share the principles of compassion, honesty, justice and love.
The most important difference between Islam and these faiths is that, whereas they worship Jesus as the son of God, Muslims believe that God alone should be worshipped and that the Prophet Mohammed (Peace Be Upon Him) is the 'Seal of the Prophets', i.e., the last one who has or will come.
Islam is a tolerant religion and allows people of other faiths to observe their religions. There are both Catholic and Protestant churches in Dubai.
Muslims belong to two major groups, Sunni or Shia, with the majority of UAE nationals belonging to the former sect.
The Arabic Islam means 'submission' and a Muslim believes that it is his duty to believe in God in the manner which is described in the Holy Quran. The Quran which is God's word as revealed through the Prophet Mohammed (Peace Be Upon Him) supplements and completes the earlier revelations upon which the Christian and Jewish faiths were built. It lays down the rules for both man's spiritual and temporal behaviour; Muslims believe that Islam, due to its nature, suits all times, and its guidelines are simple and adaptable.
The most obvious evidence of Islam's importance in the daily life of the Gulf Arab is the prevalence of mosques, with their very distinctive minarets from which the faithful are called to prayer five times a day.
The UAE remains the Arab world's most enduring and stable experiment in unity and the only working federation in the Middle East. Under HH President Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, each of the seven emirates has retained its individual character. The oil emirates of Dubai and Abu Dhabi have developed along distinctly different lines thanks to the right of individual states to continue to regulate local affairs independently.
The Supreme Council is the highest body in the country. This council comprises the seven rulers. It sanctions all laws and decrees, appoints the judges of the Supreme Court and elects the President and the Vice-President. The President of the Federation in HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and the Vice-President HH Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Camels are said to be God's gift to the Bedouin. The Bedouin offer their animals food, water and shelter. Their camels provide transportation, food and clothing in return.
Traditionally races were organized between the individual emirates. For example camels belonging to the ruler of Dubai would race the camels of the ruler of Sharjah. At that time no official race tracks were available, and the camels used to run for about three to five km.
Camels can be trained either by their owners or by professional trainers. Camels are trained for three months. In addition they should be exercised by walking and galloping. This exercise should be supplemented with a special diet of oats, bran, dates and cows' milk. The amount of food should be reduced before the race to ensure the camel is in peak racing condition. In the past the diet only consisted of the grass and leaves available in the area.
Any camel is ready to race at about three years of age. Male camels end their racing careers at the age of five or six, whereas females can carry on racing for a few years longer.
The race jockey should be young and light in weight to ensure the maximum speed of the camel.
The highlight of the season comes in April when a major two-day event is held in Abu Dhabi and camel owners and camel racing fans are invited to attend from throughout the Arabian peninsula. Another important day for camel racing is the 2nd of December, the national day of the UAE.
In the past the winners of the races received prizes of items which were important in their everyday life, such as clothes, food and even goats. Nowadays cars, trophies and cash are presented.
The Arabian horse has always been a legendary creature associated with grace, stamina and strength. It has a distinctive appearance with a short back, a small head with a concave profile, large intelligent eyes and a highly carried tail.
Bedouin have bred the Arabian horse with dedication for centuries, particularly as a fast and agile mount for battle. horses were never widely used in the UAE for transport, agriculture or warfare because the terrain is too soft and also because of the scarcity of food and water.
Arabian horses were and still are offered as gifts between sheikhs as signs of honor and gratitude.
Races are held in winter every year in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Umm Al Quwain. The Dubai races have attracted worldwide interest and become extremely popular both locally and internationally. The most famous race, held annually in March, is the Dubai World Cup.
Falconry is very popular because of the form of the sport itself. The skill of hunting quarry with a trained falcon has existed in the Arabian Peninsula since time immemorial and continues to be highly prized among UAE citizens today.
In 1977 HH Sheikh Zayed declared a large part of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi a conservation zone as part of his plans to preserve the country's wildlife.
Trained falcons are often released in the spring after the hunting season to migrate to their breeding grounds. This is to overcome the high risk of illness that occurs in summer.
Birds can be bought from trappers in and around Dubai and often are considerably expensive. Part of the traditional attraction of the sport is to catch wild birds and train them on one's own.