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Hi all

If this has been talked about before can someone please post the forum discussion thanks.

In 1971 the declining British empire allowed the Trucial States to become independent along with Qatar and Bahrain, because they could support the monetary military presence anymore. Afterwards the nine emirates attempted to form a federation only resulting in seven being inside not all nine, while Qatar and Brain became fully independent.

When the emirates became independent an Iranian destroyer drifted off training course and invaded the Greater and Lesser Tunbs islands. (They were leased to Iran for $3 million a year) While Saudi Arabia and I quote claimed to "swathes of Abu Dhabi", Here is the source (http://www.uaeprison.com/uae_disputes.htm)

All the information you need know about the dynamics of the nine emirates attempting to form a federation is below and I quote:

"After Labour MP Goronwy Roberts informed Sheikh Zayed of the news of British withdrawal, the nine Persian Gulf sheikhdoms attempted to form a federation of Arab emirates. The federation was first proposed in February 1968 when the rulers of Abu Dhabi and Dubai met in the desert location of Argoub El Sedirah and agreed on the principle of Union. They announced their intention to form a coalition, extending an invitation to other Persian Gulf states to join. Later that month, in a summit meeting attended by the rulers of Bahrain, Qatar and the Trucial Coast, the government of Qatar proposed the formation of a federation of Arab Emirates to be governed by a higher council composing of nine rulers. This proposal was accepted and a declaration of union was approved. There were, however, several disagreements between the rulers on matters such as the location of the capital, the drafting of the constitution and the distribution of ministries.

Further political issues surfaced as a result of Bahrain attempting to impose a leading role in the nine-state union, as well as the emergence of a number of differences between the rulers of the Trucial Coast, Bahrain and Qatar, the latter two being in a long-running dispute over the Hawar Islands. While Dubai's ruler, Sheikh Rashid, had a strong connection to the Qatari ruling family, including the royal intermarriage of his daughter with the son of the Qatari emir, the relationship between Abu Dhabi and Dubai (also cemented by intermarriage, Rashid's wife was a member of Abu Dhabi's ruling family) was to endure the break-up of the talks with both Bahrain and Qatar. Overall, there were only four meetings between the nine rulers. The last such meeting, which took place in Abu Dhabi, saw Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan elected as the first president of the federation. There were stalemates on numerous issues during the meeting, including the position of vice-president, the defense of the federation, and whether a constitution was required.

Shortly after the meeting, the Political Agent in Abu Dhabi revealed the British government's interests in the outcome of the session, prompting Qatar to withdraw from the federation apparently over what it perceived as foreign interference in internal affairs. The nine-emirate federation was consequently disbanded despite efforts by Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Britain to reinvigorate discussions. Bahrain became independent in August 1971, and Qatar in September 1971."


The united Emirate states has got one of those "Greater United Emirate state" ideas. (See image, it is shaded in white and grey next to Qatar)

In conclusion I have talked about three points and they are:
  • The federation having all nine Sheikdoms rather than seven
  • Saudi Arabia claiming and taking land because of there vulnerability because of the British
  • And the idea the United Arab states becoming slightly bigger
Finally my question is could one of these scenarios or combination of these have happened by "going the other way so to speak" and what would this effect, if any, to the region around the country and the world?

Thanks Alexander

united_arab_emirates_map.jpg
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