How Was the United Arab Emirates Formed?

The United Arab Emirates is a modern country that is rich in resources as well as culture and history. Here, colorful oriental bazaars converge with the magical atmosphere of the eastern desert, while glass skyscrapers glisten as flashy supercars draw crowds of awestruck tourists.

Looking at the current state of the Emirates, it feels as if the government has truly invested its time and power in attracting tourists (with the convenient UAE eVisa), investors, and companies from around the world.

However, it wasn’t always this way — from its early beginnings as a small desert state to its meteoric rise, the history of the United Arab Emirates is one for the books.

The question remains though: how did they manage to achieve such success, and in such a short amount of time?

This article will go over the history of the formation of the Middle East‘s Arab Emirates, as well as the current state!

The Humble Beginnings of the United Arab Emirates

The best way to understand the United Arab Emirates’ current situation is to take a look at its humble past.

Some 100 years ago, when the world was developing and undergoing industrialization, the Emirati locals had to turn to hard work to make a living. This entailed trading between tribes and utilizing camel caravans to transport goods, while surviving in the scorching desert.

In those days, there was no healthcare, there was an inaccessible education system, and several pockets of small tribes scattered throughout the country. In fact, Dubai, which is now considered one of the most modern cities in the world, was a small village with a population of some 10,000 people only.

The United Arab Emirates had its first period of prosperity at the beginning of the 1900s when the country began exporting pearls as a valuable commodity. Unfortunately, this was quite short-lived, as the Great Depression and various economic problems around the world forced the pearl industry to nearly collapse in the 1930s. 

Interestingly enough, the seven emirates that make up the United Emirates were not always on such good terms. In the 1950s, there were constant conflicts between the locals of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, which continued well into the 1970s.

Everything changed in 1966 when oil was found on the territory of the United Arab Emirates. Seemingly overnight, the country began to rapidly grow and expand. After a few years of building infrastructure and inking deals, the first shipment of oil was sent in 1969.

Just a couple…