UAE — books & literature

The story of UAE

The land now called the United Arab Emirates has been inhabited for thousands of years, with archaeological sites pointing to Bronze Age settlements and a long history as a hub for pearl diving, fishing, and overland and maritime trade linking Mesopotamia, Persia, and the wider Indian Ocean world. From the 19th century, British maritime treaties with the coastal sheikhdoms gave rise to the term 'Trucial States', and the region came under British protection. The discovery of oil in Abu Dhabi in the late 1950s transformed the region's fortunes. On 2 December 1971, six emirates , Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, and Fujairah , united to form the United Arab Emirates under founding president Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan; Ras Al Khaimah joined the federation in 1972. Oil wealth funded rapid infrastructure development, while Dubai in particular diversified early into trade, aviation, tourism, and finance. Today the UAE is a federation of seven emirates, each ruled by its own sheikh under a Federal Supreme Council, and has become a global hub for business, aviation, and tourism , home to the world's tallest building , while retaining Bedouin, maritime, and Islamic traditions at its cultural core.

Timeline — key moments

1. circa 3000 BCE

   Bronze Age settlements and trade networks develop along the Gulf coast.

2. 1820

   General Maritime Treaty signed with Britain, giving rise to the term "Trucial States".

3. 1892

   Exclusive Agreement places the Trucial States under British protection.

4. 1958

   Oil discovered offshore Abu Dhabi, transforming the region's economy.

5. 1971

   United Arab Emirates founded (2 December) as six emirates unite under Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

6. 1972

   Ras Al Khaimah joins as the seventh emirate.

7. 1985

   Jebel Ali Free Zone established in Dubai, spurring trade diversification.

8. 2010

   Burj Khalifa opens in Dubai as the tallest building in the world.

9. 2020

   Hope Probe launched, the first Arab and Islamic-world mission to Mars.

10. 2021

    UAE marks its Golden Jubilee, 50 years since founding.

Top 10 things to know about UAE

1. The UAE is a federation of seven emirates, each with its own ruling sheikh.
2. Abu Dhabi is the capital and holds most of the country's oil reserves.
3. Dubai's Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world.
4. Arabic is the official language; English is widely used in business and daily life.
5. The UAE dirham (AED) has been pegged to the US dollar since the late 1990s.
6. The UAE launched the Hope Probe to Mars in 2020, the first interplanetary mission by an Arab nation.
7. Most UAE residents are expatriates from South Asia, Southeast Asia, the wider Arab world, and beyond.
8. The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi is among the largest mosques in the world.
9. Falconry, an ancient Bedouin tradition, is recognised by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage.
10. Dubai's Palm Jumeirah is one of the world's largest man-made island developments.

Famous people from UAE

Say it in UAE's language

Did you know?

• ★On a clear day, the Burj Khalifa is visible from a great distance across the flat desert coastline.
• ★Dubai has no natural rivers or lakes; nearly all fresh water comes from desalination.
• ★The UAE flag's four colours , red, green, white, and black , are the traditional pan-Arab colours.

UAE culture

• Islam is the official religion and shapes daily rhythms, including five daily prayers and the observance of Ramadan.
• The majlis, a traditional seating area for gathering and discussion, remains central to Emirati hospitality.
• Traditional dress includes the kandura for men and the abaya for women.
• Camel racing and falconry remain popular traditional sports alongside modern motorsport and horse racing.

Why read UAE's books

Emirati literature draws on a long oral tradition of Bedouin poetry (nabati) alongside a fast-growing modern literary scene shaped by the country's rapid transformation , from pearl-diving coast to global city. Reading the UAE's books is a window into that leap between two worlds.