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Once known as the "Pirate Coast", the local sheiks would sign maritime agreements with the United Kingdom in 1820. By 1853 the sheikdoms became know collectively as the Trucial States, alternate name Trucial Oman, after the signing of the "Perpetual Maritime Truce" treaty that year. By 1893 the UK established a "Protectorate" over the Trucial States. In first PO was a sub-office of Karachi, then in India, at Dubai in 1909 and remained a sub-office using stamps of India till 1947. When India & Pakistan became independent of the UK, Pakistan was assigned the Dubai PO and used stamps of that nation for a year.
On April 1, 1948 Dubai came under British Postal Administrations in Eastern Arabia which included Muscat(aka Oman) until 1966, Qatar from 1950-57, Kuwait in 1951 & '53,(when there was shortages of Kuwait overprint), Bahrain use was unofficially, & then Das Island, Abu Dhabi in December 1960, the first office outside Dubai in the Trucial States.
In 1961, the first issue, set of 11, inscribed "Trucial States" were issued but used only in Dubai. They were withdrawn in June of 1963, when each sheikdom established their own PO's but would continue to use BPA Eastern Arabian stamps until they issued their own stamps.
Abu Dhabi, March 30, 1964; Ajman, June 20, 1964; Dubai, June 15, 1964; Fujeira, Sept. 22, 1964; Ras Al Khaima, Dec. 21, 1964; Sharjah & Dependencies, July 10, 1963; Umm Al Qiwain, June 29, 1964.
The BPA of Eastern Arabia ended on April 29, 1966. These stamps can be found used congruently with the sheikdoms as needed.
The Trucial States politically were still a Protectorate of the UK until December 1, 1971. But before the end of British domination on July 18, 1971 a provisional governmentwas set up called the "Federation of Arab Emirates" which included Bahrain & Qatar along with the Trucial States. This Federation lasted 5 months before falling apart & issued no stamps.
The United Arab Emirates were established on December 2, 1971 with Ras Al Khaima joined Febuary 11, 1972. The first issues of the UAE was on January 1, 1973, before that each sheikdom used their own issues. Stamps of Abu Dhabi overprinted "UAE" in August, 1972 issued only in Abu Dhabi, however, some issues were later used in Dubai & Sharjah. Starting in 1973 there was no further need for local sheikdom's to issue stamps and are generally ignored by some publications, but are plentiful.
Ajman has 2 dependencies Musfat (no stamps issued) & Manama which in 1966 stamps of Ajman were overprinted "Manama" further issues are naturals inscribed "Manama Dependency of Ajman" or simply "Manama" all are considered locals.
Sharjah includes the dependencies of the island of Sir Abu Nuair, in the Persian Gulf, Dhaid, Nahwa which is entirely surrounded by the Omani territory of Madha, which inturn is surrounded by the UEA, the last 3 are along the Gulf of Oman, Kalba, Dhiba(aka Dibba Al-Hisn)& Khor Fakkan, the later was the only dependency to issue stamps, which on March 20, 1965 opened it's first PO soon there after overprints on Sharjah issues were used, in theory, later naturals inscribed Khor Fakken were issued.
Dubai, Ras Al Khaima & Fujeira all have detached dependencies within the UAE, however, none have yet issued stamps in their names.
Abu Dhabi is 2/3rds of the entire nation, while all the remaining sheikdoms are all huddled within the peninsula between the Persian Gulf & the Gulf of Oman that the UAE share with Oman.
Hope it helps someone!
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Posted 09/04/2009 02:11 am
k
