WorldIslands
Where the name comes from
The name describes seven Arab states united in a federation, each ruled by an emir, an Arabic title meaning “commander” or “prince”.
First people
People have lived along this coast for thousands of years; Bronze Age communities of the Umm an-Nar culture traded copper with Mesopotamia.1
Known for
The country is known for Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building since 2010.2
Outside contact
Its seafaring and pearl-diving communities signed sea treaties with Britain in 1820 and protection agreements in 1892.3
The modern country
The United Arab Emirates began in December 1971, when six emirates formed a federation; Ras Al Khaimah joined in February 1972. Each emirate kept its own ruler while sharing federal institutions.4,5
