United Arab Emirates

History

The United Arab Emirates was formed from the group of tribally organized Arabian Peninsula sheikhdoms along the southern coast of the Persian Gulf and the northwestern coast of the Gulf of Oman.

Portions of the nation came under the direct influence of the Ottoman Empire during the 16th century. Thereafter the region was known as the Pirate Coast, as raiders based there harassed the shipping industry, despite both European and Arab navies patrolling the area from the 17th century into the 19th century. British expeditions to protect the Indian trade from raiders at Ras al-Khaimah led to campaigns against that headquarters and other harbors along the coast in 1819. The next year, a peace treaty was signed to which all the sheikhs of the coast adhered. Raids continued intermittently until 1835, when the sheikhs agreed not to engage in hostilities at sea. In 1853, they signed a treaty with the United Kingdom, under which the sheikhs (the "Trucial Sheikhdoms") agreed to a "perpetual maritime truce." It was enforced by the United Kingdom, and disputes among sheikhs were referred to the British for settlement.

Primarily in reaction to the ambitions of other European countries, the United Kingdom and the Trucial Sheikhdoms established closer bonds in an 1892 treaty, similar to treaties entered into by the UK with other Persian Gulf principalities. The sheikhs agreed not to dispose of any territory except to the United Kingdom and not to enter into relationships with any foreign government other than the United Kingdom without its consent. In return, the British promised to protect the Trucial Coast from all aggression by sea and to help in case of land attack.

In 1968, the UK announced its decision, reaffirmed in March 1971, to end the treaty relationships with the seven Trucial Sheikhdoms which had been, together with Bahrain and Qatar, under British protection. The nine attempted to form a union of Arab emirates, but by mid-1971 they were unable to agree on terms of union, even though the termination date of the British treaty relationship was the end of 1971. Bahrain became independent in August and Qatar in September 1971. When the British-Trucial Shaikhdoms treaty expired on December 1, 1971, they became fully independent. On December 2, 1971, six of them entered into a union called the United Arab Emirates. The seventh, Ras al-Khaimah, joined in early 1972.

Heraldry

United Arab Emirates

The coat of arms of the federation is a red target with a picture of a baghla or dhow, a ship with two masts, a high stern and a low straight bow. Around the target is a chain symbolizing the alliance of the emirates. The target is supported by a golden falcon, the emblem of the Kuraish, the tribe of  Mohammed. The falcon stands on a red listel within a black and white frame, on which the name of the federation is written in white kufic lettering.

The baghla is very common in Arab waters. It is a very seaworthy ship and from ancient times it was used for crossing the Indian Ocean to Bombay and Zanzibar.

Arms: Gules  a dhow Or with full sails Argent, sailing to the sinister on waves of the sea also Argent; within a bordure Argent charged with an arabesque of eight identical links Sable, voided Or.

Supporters: A falcon Or, billed and clawed Argent, his tail and two rows of feathers of his wings also Argent.

Motto: al amirat al mutahidah al arabiyah in silver kufic lettering on a cartouche Gules.

On 22.03.2008 the achievement was changed by replacing the baghla emblem by the national colors surrounded by a ring with seven stars

Æ See illustration in the head of this essay.

Armed Forces

UAE Armed Forces

Army

UAE Army

Navy

دولة الامارات العربية المتحدة

Emblem: A foul anchor Azure

Crest: The emblem f the UAE Armed forces proper

Garland: A crown of laurel Vert.

Air Force

Roundel (before 1970)

Present Roundel

Emirates

Abu Dhabi

Arms: A falcon Or, armed with two daggers in saltire.

Supporters: Two national flags in saltire, being Gules with a canton Argent, their staffs Sable, their spearheads Or.

Motto: government of abu dhabi in arab in golden lettering on a green background within a cartouche Or, placed over the head of the falcon. [1]

The flag was adopted in 1958 byShakhbut bin Sultan Al Nahyan (*1905)

Abu Dhabi Police

Ajman

Emblem: Two national Flags being Gules with a dexter flank Argent, and two djambijas in saltire. 

Flag adopted about 1936

7½ Riyal coin, 1970

Government Logo

New Logo (2018)

Ash Shariqah

Emblem: A palmtree proper, at its base two national flags being Gules with a bordure Argent, in saltire.

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Flag adopted 1936, abandoned 1975

Dubai

Arms: Parted per fess, in chief Azure, a dhow sailing to the dexter on waves of the sea, proper; in base on a shore with the sea in the distance, a palmtree, all proper.

Crest: A falcon Or.

Garland: Two palmleaves proper.

Supporters: Two national flags being Gules with a dexter flank Argent, in saltire.

Motto: dubai in latin and arab lettering.

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The flag was adopted in 1936

Present Logo

Dubai Police

Dubai Civil Defense

Fujairah

Arms: Argent, in chief two banners in saltire being red with the name of the country ةالفجير written thereon in white arabic script, and in base two rifles, also in saltire.

An all red flag dates from the 18^th c.

Coat of arms (2018)

Adopted by Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Sharqi (*1986) on 28 January 2017

Ras al Khaimah

Emblem: Two national flags, being Gules within a bordure Argent, in saltire; in chief two djambijas, also in saltire.

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Flag adopted 1936.

Present Logo

Umm al Qaiwain

Emblem: Two national flags being Gules, a crescent and star and a dexter flank Argent, in saltire, on their staffs two other crescents.

Flag adopted 1961

Emblem

Adopted by Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla (*1952), by law N° 2, 2014.

Present Logo