A timeline of key milestones in UAE history

1971: Dec 2 | The rulers of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain proclaimed the creation of the new state

1972: Feb 10 | Ras Al Khaimah was approved for admission to the Union by a decision of the Supreme Council, thus completing the Union entity, which became officially known as the United Arab Emirates. (His Highness Sheikh Saqr Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, the late ruler of Ras Al Khaimah)

1973 | The dirham was introduced as the UAE's currency

1974: His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Mohammed Al Sharqi becomes the Ruler of Fujairah

1976: UAE Armed Forces formed by uniting each of the emirates.

1981: May 25 | The Gulf Cooperation Council was formally launched in Abu Dhabi. The leaders of the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman put their signatures to the basic constitution of the GCC

1981: Sep 7 | Sheikh Humaid Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi becomes the new Ruler of Ajman.

1982: The new Abu Dhabi International Airport begins operations

1985: Oct 25 | Emirates airline launched.

1996: Mar 27 | Dubai hosts world’s richest horse race, $4 million Dubai World Cup. Cigar went into the annals of racing history by winning the inaugural edition of the Dubai World Cup in 1996

1999: Dec 1 | Burj Al Arab hotel opens in Dubai.

2004: His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan becomes President of the UAE.

2004: Nov | Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan was appointed as Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi

2006: Jan 5 | His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum becomes Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai

2006: July 10 | President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan registered in the population register and ID card system, triggering the official launch of this national program, the largest technological program in the Middle East Region.

2009: Jun 29 | Abu Dhabi becomes home to International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena).

2009: Sep | Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Dubai Metro, the world’s longest automated driverless train system and the first Metro in the Gulf region.

2010: Jan 4 | World’s tallest tower Burj Khalifa opens in Dubai.

2010: Oct 27 | His Highness Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi (right) has been appointed Supreme Council member and new ruler of Ras Al Khaimah following the death of Sheikh Saqr Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi.

2010: Mar 13 | South Korea signs a Memorandum of Agreement (MoU) with UAE to gain access to at least a billion barrels of crude oil reserves in oil deal with Adnoc. (President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan extended a warm welcome to South Korean President Lee Myung-bak at Mushrif Palace in Abu Dhabi.)

2013: Mar 17 | Shams 1, the world’s largest solar power plant located at Madinat Zayed is inaugurated by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

2013: Nov 27 | In Paris, Sheikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation and Chairman and CEO of Emirates airline and Group, with UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, celebrate the UAE's winning bid to host Expo 2020 in Dubai.

2014: January 19 | UAE Cabinet passes the National Service Law which stipulates compulsory military service for Emirati men aged between 18 to 30 and the service will be voluntary for women.

2014: July 16 | UAE announces the creation of the UAE Space Agency to supervise the Mars mission

2017: Oct 16 | Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has launched the UAE Strategy for Artificial Intelligence, which aims to speed up government’s performance, and create conducive creative environment with highly productivity. The strategy is part of the UAE Centennial 2071 objectives.

2018: October 29 | KhalifaSat makes history as the first satellite built on UAE soil reaches space

2018: Dec 1 | The UAE passport has jumped to Number 1 as the world's most powerful passport. With this historic achievement, UAE passport holders are now able to gain visa-free entry to 167 countries worldwide, according to Passport Index.

2019: UAE makes history with the launch of Hazzaa Al Mansoori to space.