Formation of United Arab Emirates

This file concerns a proposed Union of Arab Emirates in the Gulf. It contains correspondence on:

• The diplomatic manoeuvring over the terms of the Union and whether it should comprise all nine possible members
• Rumours that a preliminary union of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Qatar is likely and opposition to this from the Ruler of Sharjah Sheikh Khalid Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi
• A meeting in Ras Al Khaimah between its Ruler and those of Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah
• A letter in Arabic from the Foreign Secretary Sir Alec Douglas-Home to the Rulers urging them to make progress on the Union
• A visit to the Gulf States by a joint Kuwait-Saudi Arabian mission, led by the Saudi Prince Nawwaf Bin Abdul Aziz and Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah to present proposals on the union; their meetings with Gulf leaders
• The return of the Ruler of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan from his holiday in Pakistan to meet the Saudi-Kuwait mission
• The anger of the Saudi-Kuwaiti mission at their inability to meet the Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum who remained on holiday in Iran
• A meeting between the Saudi-Kuwait mission and the Political Resident G G Arthur in Bahrain
• Discussions held by Arthur with the Rulers following the Saudi-Kuwait mission and notification by him of HMG's policy on withdrawing from the Gulf
• The record of a meeting in Jeddah on 24 January between the British ambassador W Morris and Sir W H T Luce; and King Faisal Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, Prince Nawwaf, Sayyed Omar Saqqaf and Rashad Faraon
• Saudi support for a union of the nine
• A meeting between Luce and the Ruler of Bahrain Sheikh Isa Bin Salman Al Khalifa
• Bahrain’s exploration of the possible alternative of independence
• The question of whether the temporary capital of the Union should be in Abu Dhabi
• The question of how offices of state and ministerial portfolios should be distributed
• Transitional arrangements and census provision
• Differences between Qatar and Bahrain concerning union
• The significance of Gulf islands and relations with Iran.