The Arabian Gulf states for centuries have been the centre of commercial trade flows, being located just where Asia, Africa, and Europe meet. In January 1968, after the announcement of the withdrawal of the British Empire from the Arabian Gulf countries, the rulers saw that they would be more powerful if they were united as a group. The first step was the creation of the United Arab Emirates. The second step, finally taken in 1981, was the creation of the Gulf Cooperation Council.