Since its foundation in 1971, the UAE has been powering ahead with bold ambitions for the future, pushing its boundaries into space exploration and nuclear energy.
A beacon of prosperity, generosity and peace in the region, the UAE has demonstrated its care for all nationalities, at home and abroad, with social programmes and relief efforts continuing through the year. These numbers tell the story:
1960
Sep 30 Shaikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai, opens the airport, implements innovative open-skies policy.
1961
Dubai’s first central water supply connects 86,777 households.
Shaikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum sets up the first municipal council in the emirate.
1962
Oil is exported for the first time from Abu Dhabi.
1965
Dubai city centre installed first street lights.
1966
Aug 6 Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan becomes Ruler of Abu Dhabi.
1968
Dubai TV station established.
Al Bateen Airport opens in Abu Dhabi.
1969
Dubai exports oil for the first time.
1971
Shaikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum opens Dubai Museum housed in Al Fahidi Fort, one of the oldest structures in Dubai.
December 2 Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain sign the founding charter of the UAE.
Dec 9 The Supreme Council forms and has its first meeting in Abu Dhabi.
First UAE Cabinet formed with Shaikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum as Prime Minister.
UAE joins Arab League.
1972
February 11 Ras Al Khaimah signs the charter.
February 12 Federal National Council’s first session held.
1973
May 19 The official currency of UAE, the dirham, issued.
1974
His Highness Shaikh Hamad Bin Mohammad Al Sharqi becomes Ruler of Fujairah.
1975
1976
Umm Al Nar oil refinery in Abu Dhabi opened.
Ras Al Khaimah airport inaugurated.
May 6 UAE Armed Forces formed by uniting each of the emirates.
Aug 30 (Etisalat) Emirates Telecommunications formerly known as Emirtel, established. UAE University established.
1977
Dubai Natural Gas company established.
1978
New Dubai Hospital completed.
1979
Apr 30 Shaikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum appointed Prime Minister of the UAE along with post of Vice-President.
Oct Dubai Aluminum Company (Dubal) in Jebel Ali begins operations.
1980
Apr 22 Dugas plant in Dubai inaugurated.
1981
Feb 21 Shaikh Ahmad Bin Rashid Al Mualla, Member of the UAE Supreme Council and Ruler of Umm Al Quwain, dies.
Feb 22 Shaikh Rashid Bin Ahmad Al Mualla becomes Ruler of Umm Al Quwain following the death of his father.
May 25 Gulf Cooperation Council formally launched in Abu Dhabi.
Sep 6 Shaikh Rashid Bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Ajman, dies after prolonged illness.
Sep 7 Shaikh Humaid Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi becomes the new Ruler of Ajman.
1982
Jan 4 The new Abu Dhabi International Airport begins operations.
Jun 19 Shaikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, inaugurates Deira Clock Tower underpass.
1983
March First Gulf Property Exhibition held.
May Fujairah Port, largest of the UAE’s ports, becomes fully operational.
May Dubai Drydocks starts operations.
1984
Apr Construction of Sharjah’s Khalid Lagoon fountain — one of region’s highest — completed.
May 19 Ajman Cement Factory inaugurated.
1985
Apr il Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza) established.
Oct 25 Emirates airline launched.
1986
June Sharjah Liquefied Gas Company (Shalco) begins production.
1987
Oct 29 Fujairah International Airport opens.
1989
Jan 29 First Dubai Airshow launched.
1990
Oct 7 Shaikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, dies.
Oct 8 Shaikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum becomes Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
1991
Jan Invasion of Kuwait — UAE joins Operation Desert Storm.
Apr 15 Dubai Cargo Village receives first cargo flight marking the soft opening of new cargo terminal.
1993
Feb 14 First International Defence Exhibition and Conference held in Abu Dhabi.
1995
May 20 Dubai Transport Corporation’s taxi service launched.
1996
Feb 15 First Dubai Shopping Festival inaugurated.
Mar 27 Dubai hosts world’s richest horse race, $4 million Dubai World Cup.
Apr 10 UAE becomes member of World Trade Organisation.
Jun 18 Abu Dhabi becomes federal capital after Federal National Council paves way to a permanent constitution.
1998
May 1 Dubai International Airport Terminal 2 opens.
1999
Jul 10 Advance party of UAE troops arrive at Vucitrn, some 30km north of Pristina, in the zone controlled by the French KFOR contingent.
Dec 1
Burj Al Arab hotel opens in Dubai.
2001
Oct Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Minister of Defence, launches Dubai e-government.
2003
Oct 28 Air Arabia launches operations.
Nov 5 Etihad launched with ceremonial flight from Abu Dhabi to Al Ain.
Nov 30 Shaikh Mohmmad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan appointed Deputy Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
2004
Aug Shaikh Ahmad Bin Hasher Al Maktoum becomes First Emirati to win gold medal at the 2004 Olympics.
Nov 2 UAE President Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan dies. Nov 3 His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan becomes President of the UAE.
Nov General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan becomes Abu Dhabi Crown Prince.
2005
Jan 1 Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed appointed Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
2006
Jan 4 Shaikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, dies.
Jan 5 His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum becomes Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
Jul 10 President Khalifa launches National ID card project.
Dec 16 First ever national elections for Federal National Council held.
2007
Feb Mobile telecommunication services of du launched across UAE.
Dec 21 Shaikh Zayed Grand Mosque opens to public.
2008
Jan 13 US President George W. Bush arrives in Abu Dhabi on an official visit to UAE.
Oct 14 Emirates’ Terminal 3 in Dubai opens.
2009
Jun 29 Abu Dhabi becomes home to International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena).
Sep 9 Dubai Metro opens.
Nov 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, held at the Yas Marina Circuit.
2010
Jan 4 World’s tallest tower Burj Khalifa opens in Dubai.
Jan 28 Dh10-billion Meydan grandstand and racecourse inaugurated.
Jun 26 Dubai Airports officially opens Dubai World Central (DWC) — Al Maktoum International Airport for cargo operations, welcoming inaugural flights operated by Rus Aviation, Skyline and Aerospace Consortium.
Oct 27 Shaikh Saqr Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Member of Supreme Council and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, dies and is succeeded by his son, His Highness Shaikh Saud Bin Saqr Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi as the new ruler of Ras Al Khaimah.
Nov 4 Ferrari World, world’s largest theme park, opens to public in Abu Dhabi.
2011
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.
May 16 The RAK Maritime City oficially launched.
Jul 11 Increase of 129, 274 in the electoral college that cast its votes for the 2nd FNC election compared to 6,500 in 2006.
Jul Al Ain becomes part of the Unesco World Heritage list, an honour for Al Ain’s rich history and treasure trove.
2012
Jul 15 Habshan-Fujairah crude oil pipe makes its inaugural 500,000 barrels of crude exported to Pakistan.
Nov 24 Mohammad Bin Rashid City, a new development in Dubai that will feature the world’s largest mall and a park bigger than London’s Hyde Park, launched.
Dec 5 Shaikh Zayed Tunnel, one of the longest tunnels in the Middle East stretching 4.2 kilometres, opened to public in Abu Dhabi.
Dec 12 President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed inaugurates Khalifa Port 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 Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Apr 8 M Station, UAE’s largest power production and water desalination plant in Jebel Ali. inaugurated.
Oct 22 Phase one of the 280,000 square metre Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Solar Park inaugurated in Dubai.
Oct 27 Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai World Central inaugurated.
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.
March 27 UAE government launches the first store for Smart Government Applications on the global level through the Android and iOS platforms, which offers more than 100 smart applications developed by UAE federal and local departments linking 700 customer services from one location.
May 5 Dubai’s new brand launched during the opening of Arabian Travel Market.
May 19 Dubai launches The World Free Zones Organisation (World FZO) in Dubai, responsible for implementing industry standardisation and best practices and protecting the interests of economic zones.
June 9 UAE launches UAE Government YouTube channel.
July 16 UAE announces space probe blast offs toward the Red Planet Mars in 2021, marking the first entry into space exploration by an Islamic country; first Arab country and one of only nine countries with space programmes to explore Mars.
October 20 UAE Space Agency and EIAST sign agreement to build first Arab Islamic probe to reach Mars.
November 3 UAE celebrates Flag Day to commemorate His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s 10th anniversary as the nation’s president.
November 11 Dubai’s newest mode of transport, Dubai Tram, inaugurated.
2015
January 1 UAE named world’s largest donor of official development assistance in 2013, according to Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) report.
January 9 Telethon to raise funds for Syrian refugees raises Dh150 million.
January 30 Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, launches Dubai Innovation Hub.
February 7 UAE sends F16 squadron to Jordan in support of military efforts against Daesh.
February 9 Government Summit begins in Dubai.
February 16 UAE F-16 jets based in Jordan attack oil refineries under Daesh control.
March 4 Plans for Museum of the Future unveiled.
March 9 Solar Impulse 2 takes off from Abu Dhabi.
March 15 US teacher Nancie Atwell awarded $1 million Global Teacher Prize, at Global Education Skills Forum 2015, in Dubai.
March 17 Arab Social Media Influencers Summit held in Dubai.
April 4 Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, inaugurates Makani (My location) initiative for geographic address system.
April 9 UAE ranked world’s largest donor of humanitarian aid in 2014, relative to its national income.
April 18 Dubai sets up Mohammad Bin Rashid Space Centre.
April 19 UAE Cabinet approves establishment of headquarters of a joint GCC Police Force in Abu Dhabi.
April 24 UAE ranked happiest Arab country in UN’s third World Happiness Report.
May 6 Name of first Arab probe to Mars called ‘Hope’ or Al Amal in Arabic announced.
May 6 UAE and European Union sign landmark agreement allowing Emiratis to visit Schengen countries without a visa.
May 7 Sharjah Centre for Space Sciences and Astronomy opens in University City of Sharjah.
May 20 Abu Dhabi named Arab Environment Capital for 2015.
May 25 UAE announces plans to establish first Space Research Centre in the Middle East.
June 14 Her Highness Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak named Islamic Personality of the Year 2015, first to be conferred on a woman.
June 16 UAE Ministry of Health bans sale and use of e-cigarettes.
June 19 UAE Initiative for Connection With Orphans and Minors launched by Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
June 29 UAE Federal Supreme Court hands death sentence to Al Reem Island killer, Ala’a Al Hashemi, for killing American kindergarten teacher in Abu Dhabi.
July 7 UAE businessman Abdullah Ahmad Al Ghurair donates one third of his assets to education foundation.
July 11 Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum issues law for establishing Mohammad Bin Rashid Space Centre, which will work to support country’s efforts in the space field.
July 20 UAE launches crackdown on hate speech and bigotry prohibiting any form of discrimination on the basis of religion, caste, creed, doctrine, race, colour or ethnic origin.
August 28 to be commemorated as Emirati Women’s Day..
September 16 Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum launches Arab Reading Challenge, with $3 million in prizes.
September 19 Shaikh Rashid Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum dies of a heart attack. He was 34.
September 21 Hind Abdul Aziz Al Owais becomes first Emirati woman to be posted as senior adviser at United Nations headquarters.
September 30 Sharjah declared first World Health Organisation (WHO) Healthy city in Middle East.
October 24 Dubai launches Mohammad Bin Rashid Smart Majlis.
October 27 UAE retains its top spot in Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region in the World Bank’s ranking of ease of doing business for the third consecutive year.
November 1 Tiny Micra Transcatheter Pacing System pacemaker used in new procedure for an open-heart surgery, performed at Sharjah’s Al Qasimi Hospital for first time in UAE.
November 2 World’s first cloned camel, Injaz, gives birth to calf.
November 3 UAE celebrates Flag Day.
November 7 First batch of Emirati troops return from Yemen after seven months of deployment.
November 13 Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Twitter followers reach 5 million.
November 15 Qasr Al Muwaiji, birthplace of UAE President Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, officially opens as a museum in Al Ain.
November 18 Dr Amal Al Qubaisi makes history as first woman Federal National Council (FNC) Speaker.
November 24 Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum launches the Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Fund to Finance Innovation, worth Dh2 billion.
November 24 Sharjah becomes the first Arab City to launch Smart Bins.
November 25 UAE signs agreement to set up the GCC police force (GCCPOL), to be headquartered in Abu Dhabi.
November 30 To be observed every year as Commemoration Day in honour of the courageous individuals who scarificed their lives for the UAE, keeping its ideals aloft. A one-minute silence at 11.30am is observed throughout the country as a mark of deep respect for the martyrs.
— Compiled by Gulf News Archives
