Federation of Arab Emirates

The Federation of Arab Emirates (FAE) (Arabic: اتحاد الامارات العربية), also sometimes Union of Arab Emirates, was a proposed sovereign federal union of nine sheikhdoms of Britain's Persian Gulf Residency, comprising Bahrain, Qatar and the rest of seven emirates of the Trucial States, namely Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Umm Al Quwain, Ajman, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah. The union existed during much of the unification of the United Arab Emirates and came into being as a semblance of a transitional government in February 1968 following a meeting between the leaders of these emirates in less than two months after the British decision of withdrawal was announced. However, several disagreements between the leaders due to political and economic reasons led to the dissolution of the union when Bahrain and Qatar announced their respective independence by August and September 1971 whereas the rest of the Trucial States (with the temporary exception of Ras Al Khaimah) went on to form the United Arab Emirates in December 1971.

According to Dr. Emile Nakhleh, the-then associate professor of political science at Mount Saint Mary's College and Seminary, in his book Arab-American Relations in the Persian Gulf, said several factors led to its disintegration. such as the federal structure being a hurried reaction to the announced British withdrawal, and the call for federation was prompted by leaders of the individual emirates determined to preserve their rule, unresolved disputes still outstanding, the most important of which was the one between Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi over the Buraimi oasis and the disparities in wealth, education and population among the emirates that added fuel to the fire.