The UAE turns 40

When the United Arab Emirates was created in December 1971, few outside observers gave it a chance of success. Many concluded that the UAE was "an artificial creation that stood to have no chance of success and that its evolution was largely an artefact of British colonial policy". Contrary to all these views, local observers saw in the creation of the UAE the embodiment of their long-time dream. Many believed that the creation of the UAE came as a natural outcome of the prevailing political, economic, social and cultural conditions of the area.

Until their union, the shaikhdoms of the then "Trucial Coast" remained politically fragmented. They were disparate in size, ranging from small to tiny. Their lack of political and economic coherence increased their poverty. Against this background of differences, it is remarkable that the new polity was able to embrace an attitude of established nations.

The UAE, a federation of the former seven Trucial shaikhdoms, followed the termination of British treaties of 1892. These treaties had stipulated that Britain would defend the emirates and conduct their foreign relations. Since 1892, the British thus maintained security by discouraging any foreign powers, European or regional, from intruding into the Gulf.

During the first half of the 20th century, Britain was able to impose one-sided obligations and ensure influence through the Political Resident, an authority which Britain created to supervise its interests in the Gulf. Little change occurred until the aftermath of the Second World War, when Britain revised its policy towards the Gulf shaikhdoms in general.

The Second World War accentuated the isolation of the Trucial shaikhdoms. Only Dubai, and to a lesser extent Sharjah, witnessed the development of its trade industry and developed into active trade centres. The other emirates had to wait for a while to witness any important economic development. Transport was limited to camels and dhows. The area maintained an unchanging lifestyle that centred on tribal cohesion and a hereditary chain of control.

In the early 1960s oil was first pumped from Abu Dhabi and in the late 1960s Dubai became an oil producer too. Negotiations for the British withdrawal also began and negotiations for the UAE's unification also started. All in all, the 1960s proved to be one of the most profound decades in the UAE's history.

Britain's decision to withdraw from the Gulf may be seen as the line that divides two eras. From this critical threshold on, the Gulf shaikhdoms ceased to exist as protectorates. Within just four years (1968-1971), the states of the Sultanate of Oman, Bahrain, Qatar and the UAE were to crystallise into formal states from once-tribal aggregations. Let it be said that the initial reaction of the shaikhdoms to the British decision was quite unfavourable. In the thinking of the day, the British departure would create a huge lacuna in defence, with ambitions of Iran hovering on the eastern horizon seeming quite ominous. The idea was thus put forward that the nine lower Gulf shaikhdoms, comprising the seven Trucial shaikhdoms, plus Qatar and Bahrain, could unite into a federation.

The concept of a federation arose from ensuring continued stability and security. The possibilities of prosperity, too, were just beginning to figure in nationalist thinking. Accordingly, feverish diplomatic and political activities followed in quick succession, which can be outlined as:

a) A meeting in Abu Dhabi on February 18, 1968, in which an agreement was reached between Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan of Abu Dhabi and Shaikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum of Dubai to form a union between their two emirates to jointly undertake foreign affairs, defence, social services and immigration.

b) Next, the two rulers invited the rulers of the five Trucial emirates along with Qatar and Bahrain, on February 25, 1968. They signed a federation agreement which was to go into effect the following month.

However, Iran strongly opposed the federation, invoking "historical and territorial rights" to Bahrain and a fear that the British might use the federation as a "way to return to the Gulf by the back door". The complex scheme of federation also required negotiating a mutual agreement of representational formulae for the national council, the federal capital, the army and the federal budget. Bahrain and Qatar opted for independence.

Locally the oil boom coincided with the increase of national feelings. In the sudden switch from tribal seclusion to international limelight, the shaikhdoms readily rose to the challenge and rapidly implemented the social responsibility to aid the more needy shaikhdoms. On his accession as president of the UAE in 1971, Shaikh Zayed was intent on rapid modernisation and generously distributed the newly acquired oil wealth equally among all emirates. It was due to Shaikh Zayed's generosity that the UAE entered a new era of development. Another profound change was to shift to an attitude favouring the concept of union. Several individuals played a prominent role — for example, Ahmad Khalifa Al Suwaidi, Mana Al Otaiba, to name just two.

On December 1, 1971, the British flag was lowered, and the next day, six of the seven emirates united. The seventh, Ras Al Khaimah, joined the union on February 10, 1972. The rulers convened their meeting as the Supreme Council. During this meeting Shaikh Zayed was elected the state's first president.

By virtue of its wealth, Abu Dhabi furnished the bulk of the federation's budget and thereby garnered the central position within the federation. Abu Dhabi also financed other projects in the less wealthy emirates. Shaikh Zayed used Abu Dhabi's financial power wisely to bring the disparate shaikhdoms into the federation.

It would be instructive to revisit the social conditions in 1971 to fully appreciate the momentous challenge at hand and the monumental achievements that also soon followed. At the time of its formation, the UAE lacked basic expertise and infrastructure. Disputes prevailed among neighbouring countries. Moreover, nearly 90 per cent of its 200,000-300,000 inhabitants were illiterate and basic human resources for development were non-existent.

There was no organised political or economic system. Thus, in considering formation, the building process began at ground zero without all the ingredients for building a politically and militarily strong nation, except for oil revenues to purchase foreign expertise and building materials. Nonetheless, within just five years the formative state showed signs of viability. From there on both federal and local-level agencies have influenced almost all aspects of life. As with other relatively young states, the newly created institutions derived their legitimacy and status from the extent of their activities and achievements. Overall, the records of achievement have been impressive by all standards.

Conceptually, the government is constructed along Western models since power is divided among executive, legislative and judicial bodies. Originally, the federal structure was to have control over defence, finance and foreign affairs. All internal powers remained under the jurisdiction of the various emirates. This structure appeared workable when first conceived, but in the years of practice the lines demarcating the various governmental functions became blurred.

Basically, one does not shift from authority based on tribal tradition to a new government based on a legal bureaucratic framework overnight. In reality, each emirate maintained autonomy in internal administration and guarded its prerogatives while technically cooperating within the federal structure. The UAE provisional constitution, adopted in 1971, provided for a Federal Supreme Council, President, Vice President, Council of Ministers and a legislative body called the Federal National Council.

A modern judiciary system modelled on the British and Indian systems was adopted to coexist with Sharia.

Having sacred and secular legal codes existing simultaneously, of course, causes problems of jurisdiction; which code has precedence? Does Sharia apply to expatriate workers, or does only the modern legal code apply?

The federal structure rapidly crystallised, when Shaikh Zayed decreed in 1973 that the local departments of Abu Dhabi were to be fully incorporated into the federal body. This increased the federal Cabinet to 26 ministers, plus the prime minister. This expansion enabled the Cabinet to include additional representatives from the other emirates. This is not to say that the power had shifted from the separate emirates. In 1974, the union was strengthened further by shifting Abu Dhabi's Opec membership to the federal government. The embryonic union now had international status, especially in the context of the oil embargo then in effect.

The other emirates also internalised the new federal administration to develop among the citizens a new-found pride in belonging to a new nation. The citizenry had not been accustomed heretofore in dealing with a formal government and its agencies. Traditionally, their tribal chief helped solve problems through face-to-face relations. This was basically a patriarchal tradition-bound system with the local ruler or chief acting as a father figure.

Getting the citizens to trust their federal government to look after their interests and to look upon the president (who might be from another tribe) as head of state was quite alien to them. It changed the entire way of life and ways of thinking that had been passed down through generations. However, well-skilled in tribal politics, Shaikh Zayed was able to win them over. His generosity and open-handedness left a great impact on transferring social solidarity from the tribe or emirate to the new nation.

The year 1976 seems to have had a profound impact on the UAE's history. It witnessed the reunification of the armed forces, a step that strengthened the union. Since Abu Dhabi had significant earnings in 1976 — in excess of $6 billion (Dh22.02 billion) — it provided nearly three-quarters of the federal revenues and financed the budgets of most of the smaller emirates. Rapid transformations occurred in living standards, infrastructure development, welfare-state entitlements, health and education.

The social landscape changed, with a huge influx of skilled and unskilled foreign workers that eventually broke down the traditional barriers. Urban centres per se are new, although each emirate had maintained at least one town as a focal point for several centuries.

Within the past three decades, Dubai had grown from a palm-huts coastal town to the most famous financial and trade centre of the Middle East. Sharjah also developed an extensive trade and merchant sector, which rapidly grew. Abu Dhabi, which became the capital city of the UAE, also turned into the region's cultural centre.

Despite regional ups and downs, the 1980s and 1990s proved to be have a significant impact on the history of the UAE. During this period, the UAE achieved high international recognition due to its role as a moderator and peacemaker, and its unique style of development. Meanwhile, the establishment of the GCC in 1981, which came as a response to outside threats, played a fundamental role in stabilising the affairs of the Gulf.

Economically, the UAE became a role model for fast development in the Middle East. The growth of its economy and diversification of its economic resources gave it a leading position among the emerging economies. The UAE often used its wealth and its central position to mediate in many international issues. This role brought the UAE credibility along with international recognition. Its moderate policies and wise leadership gained the UAE recognition worldwide.

On November 2, 2004, the UAE lost its founder. Shaikh Zayed's death dealt a big blow to the UAE and its citizens. For more than three decades, Shaikh Zayed was not only the president but also the father figure of the union.

However, soon after, the Supreme Council of Rulers met and elected his son Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan as the new president.

Shaikh Khalifa's era opened a new chapter in the history of the UAE. He was not only Shaikh Zayed's successor but also an embodiment of his policies and character. Not only did he follow Shaikh Zayed's guidelines but also his policies and generosity in dealing with people. He introduced a modern system of administration based on people's empowerment and political participation. Keeping the ideals and values of the union intact was one of the most fundamental goals of Shaikh Khalifa's government. In addition to this was the task of keeping the social morals and identity of the UAE alive. Can tribal and global culture be adequately melded so that the UAE's cultural identity and values are not undermined? The government's emphasis on self-realisation, self-confidence and self-respect has to a degree been adopted among the citizenry.

Today the UAE government is interested in maintaining economic relations in the region, especially within the GCC, and with neighbouring countries, such as the Islamic Republic of Iran, and worldwide. The UAE's open-market policy has attracted commercial competition for market shares. The UAE bases most commercial decisions on price and quality rather than on political considerations. As far as foreign policy is concerned, the UAE has established and maintained good relations with all countries. Its foreign policy recognises that security must come in large part from other more powerful states. The UAE leadership bases its policy on the realisation that "it is a small country in a tough neighbourhood".

Therefore, cooperation and neighbourliness are implicit in the UAE's foreign relations. While territorial disputes with Iran (the issue of the occupied islands) pose a small threat of potential instability to the security of the Gulf as a whole, Iran's ambitions in the Gulf seem to pose a more serious threat.

As the UAE celebrates its 40th anniversary, it should be proud of what it has achieved. The optimistic state of affairs is largely attributed to President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who used the time-honoured traditions and technical developments to skilfully guide the embryonic UAE to its present prosperity. Today, the UAE not only has the world's most iconic landmarks, such as Burj Khalifa, the world's biggest airport, and is the second-largest economy in the Middle East, it has also succeeded in establishing itself as a strong country which deals successfully with all major challenges, and emerged as a successful model in the Middle East.

Dr Fatma Al Sayegh is a professor of history at the UAE University.