UAE in 1971: A historic year that shaped a nation’s 54-year journey
UAE has come a long way, establishing itself firmly as a modern and progressive nation
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Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Sheikh Khalid Bin Mohamed Al Qasimi, Sir Geoffrey Arthur, UK Political Resident in the Gulf, at the signing of the Treaty of Friendship between the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom at Al Diyafah Palace in Jumeirah, Dubai on 2 Dec 1971.
GN Archives
2/14
Ahmed Khalifa Al Suwaidi, then an adviser to Sheikh Zayed, was appointed the UAE's first Foreign Minister and announced to the media the formation of the UAE. Above, Ahmad Khalifa Al Suwaidi reads the statement on the formation of the United Arab Emirates at Al Diafah Palace in Jumeirah, Dubai.
National Archives
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Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan prior to the raising of the UAE flag following the proclamation of the Union at Al Diafah Palace in Jumeirah in Dubai on 2 Dec 1971.
National Archives
4/14
Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Sheikh Humaid Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Sheikh Mohamed Bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Sheikh Rashid Bin Ahmad Al Mu'alla and Sheikh Khalid Bin Mohamed Al Qasimi in a group photograph after the proclamation of the Union of the United Arab Emirates at Al Diafah Palace in Jumeirah in Dubai on 2 Dec 1971.
WAM/Gulf News archives
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Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan with Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum at Al Bahar Palace in Abu Dhabi
Gulf News Archives
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The first UAE Cabinet meeting was attended by Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
WAM/Gulf News archives
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An aerial view of Dubai creek.
WAM/Gulf News archives
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Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in 1971. Sheikh Mohammed was appointed Head Of Dubai Police and Security in 1968 and UAE Minister of Defence after federation in 1971. He was the youngest minister of defence in the world at that time.
WAM/Gulf News archives
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An aerial view of Abu Dhabi International Airport (now Al Bateen Executive Airport).
National Archives
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Dubai International airport in 1971. The first airport had only four gates. Construction of the airport was ordered by the late ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, in 1959. It officially opened in 1960 with its first airfield, at which time it was able to handle aircraft the size of a Douglas DC-3 on a 1,800-metre-long (5,900 ft) runway made of compacted sand.
Dubai Airports
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A view of Khorfakkan.
National Archives
12/14
Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan is accompanied by Shaikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Vice-President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, during his tour in the Northern Emirates.
National Archives
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Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan seen listening to a teacher presenting a project concerning static electricity during the first annual exhibition at Al Kindi Primary School in Abu Dhabi.
National Archives
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Dubai creek in 1971.
National Archives
Devadasan K PChief Visual Editor
Devadasan K P is the Chief Visual Editor at Gulf News, bringing more than 26 years of experience in photojournalism to the role. He leads the Visual desk with precision, speed, and a strong editorial instinct.
Whether he’s selecting images of royalty, chasing the biggest celebrity moments in Dubai, or covering live events himself, Devadasan is always a few steps ahead of the action.
Over the years, he has covered a wide range of major assignments — including the 2004 tsunami in Sri Lanka, the 2005 Kashmir earthquake, feature reportage from Afghanistan, the IMF World Bank meetings, and wildlife series from Kenya.
His work has been widely recognised with industry accolades, including the Minolta Photojournalist of the Year award in 2005, the Best Picture Award at the Dubai Shopping Festival in 2008, and a Silver Award from the Society for News Design in 2011.
He handles the newsroom pressure with a calm attitude, a quick response time, and his signature brand of good-natured Malayali humour. There's no fuss — just someone who gets the job done very well, every single time.
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