On the road towards unity: the Trucial states from a British perspective, 1960–66

Abstract

The United Arab Emirates, a union of Trucial States was formed in 1971, with the subsequent addition of Ras al Khaimah. Although the United Arab Emirates emerged as a stable, thriving nation-state, in 1960, at the beginning of what was to be Britain's last decade in the Arab Gulf, the future of the area was uncertain, the possibility of successful union doubtful. Covering an area of 32,000 square miles, the seven sheikhdoms that united to create the Trucial States, Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al Khaimah, Sharjah, and Umm al Qaiwain, had long-standing treaties with Great Britain, the earliest made in 1820. Her Majesty's Government was responsible for the external affairs of these sheikhdoms, a responsibility carried out through the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf and Political Agents in the Trucial States. Although London recognized the right of the Rulers to control their own internal affairs there was 'an unconcealed expectation on the British side that the Political Resident's advice would be listened to; and the boundary between offering advice and enforcing it may have been as narrow as a vocal inflection'.' In 1960 the British had three major goals in the Trucial States: the preservation of stability, development of potential oil resources, and elimination of support for Arab Nationalism as promoted by champions of Egyptian leader Gamal Abdul Nasser. To achieve these ends, the British encouraged Trucial State rulers to improve the quality of life in their territories and to work together to achieve unity. Considerable British attention focused on the rulers of the two most important Trucial States, Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Ruler of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Shakhbut al Nahyan, posed a special problem for British officials. Although oil had been found in his sheikhdom and Sheikh Shakhbut was receiving income from Trucial States Petroleum Development, Ltd., and Abu Dhabi Marine Areas Ltd., companies in the process of developing his oil fields, the Ruler refused to spend money on sorely needed public projects. Nor was he willing to spend money on his own family. When