Historically, various Arab tribes inhabited the Persian Gulf, engaging in trade as well as piracy. With the arrival of the Europeans to the region, their maritime activities were restricted. Britain established defense and trade alliances with seven small emirates along the southern coast of the Gulf in the early 1900s, resulting in the British-protected confederation known as the ‘Trucial States.’
With the discovery of oil along the coast in the 20th century, and growing international interest in the region, Britain increased federative efforts among the coastal emirates. In 1971, Britain withdrew completely from the region, resulting in the Trucial States declaring independence as the ‘United Arab Emirates’. The union was led by the highly skilled Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Under his leadership (which lasted nearly 40 years), the union evolved into a fully functional state, developing infrastructure and economic foundations. The Emirates has developed to become one of the most important and influential countries in the region and around the world.
