ABSTRACT
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a federation of the seven former Trucial states: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras al-Khaimah, Ajman, Umm al-Qaiwain and Fujairah. The latter two states, although willing at first to consider joining the federation, ultimately opted to go it alone. The contrast between the Al Nahyan of Abu Dhabi and the Al Maktoum of Dubai is striking, particularly in view of the fact that they are both members of the Bani Yas tribal grouping. It lies on the coast between Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. It was reported that Shaikh Zayid, President of the UAE, had supported Abdel Aziz's attempt to seize power in the hope that Sharjah would become more self-reliant and less likely to draw on the federation coffers. An ancient enmity between the Qawasim and the Sharqiyyin was revived during the 1920s, and there was intermittent and sometimes fierce fighting between Kalba and Fujairah.
