Old Gulf Coast Days: United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates is a federation of seven sheikhdoms located on the western shore of the Persian Gulf: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al-Qawain, Ras al-Khaimah and Fujairah on the Arabian Sea coast. Historically known as the Trucial States, the region enjoyed British protection until the rulers shelved differences and amalgamated as the UAE in 1971.

Before the discovery of oil, people lived at subsistence level. The men moving between inland oases for the annual date harvest a...