Page 97 - Key to Social Studies 5
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Let’s Connect
The UAE in the Past versus the Present
The UAE in the Past
In the 16 century, the land forming today’s UAE was under the sovereignty of the Portuguese who aimed to
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control the most pro table ports of the Indian Ocean and Arabian Gulf because of their great riches.
By the beginning of the 17 century, the Portuguese started to grow weaker due to some local uprisings
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which succeeded in driving the Portuguese out of the region. After this, the British and Dutch started to
show interest in the land, and the British succeeded in taking control of the land, considering it a British
colony until World War I.
After several truces with the British, the emirates united to form the Trucial Sheikhdoms. Then, the states
became completely independent after World War II and united in 1971 to form the United Arab Emirates.
The UAE in the Present
Ruled under a sovereign constitutional monarchy, the United Arab Emirates today has a population of
almost 9.8 million, 80% of which are foreigners. The UAE has the second largest economy in the GCC, which
is also the most diversi ed economy in the Gulf.
Fujairah Fort
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