The Three Occupied Uae Islands

Unresolved territorial disputes have historically raised tensions between nations, often leading to regional destabilization and international repercussions. The issue of the three occupied UAE islands – the Greater and Lesser Tunbs and Abu Musa – deserves particular attention because it threatens to undermine regional security and has potential global implications. Given the commanding position of the islands over the major shipping lanes of the Arabian Gulf and their strategic location in the vicinity of important offshore oilfields, the continuing Iranian occupation of these key islands is undoubtedly a matter of international concern. By documenting the historical record and examining the relevant international precedents, this comprehensive study highlights and reinforces the legal and sovereign rights of the United Arab Emirates over the three islands. The study is supported by extensive and meticulous research based on both primary and secondary sources: declassified British and US archival records and original historical documents, relevant legal studies, memoirs of important personalities, interviews with key players and analyses by political commentators. In keeping with the UAE’s policy of seeking a just and peaceful resolution to this dispute, this book aims to promote a better understanding of its complexities by offering fresh insight on the historical, political, legal, regional and international dimensions of the islands issue for the benefit of policy makers, academics, researchers and decision makers concerned with the future security and stability of the Gulf region.

Unresolved territorial disputes have historically raised tensions between nations, often leading to regional destabilization and international repercussions. The issue of the three occupied UAE islands in the Persian Gulf - the Greater and Lesser Tunbs and Abu Musa - deserves particular attention because it threatens to undermine regional security and has potential global implications. Given the commanding position of the islands over the major shipping lanes of the Gulf and their strategic location in the vicinity of important offshore oilfields, the continuing Iranian occupation of these key islands is a matter of both regional and broader international concern. Documenting the historical record and examining the relevant international precedents, this comprehensive study assesses the legal and sovereign rights of the United Arab Emirates over the three islands. The study is based on extensive research in both primary and secondary sources: declassified British and US archival records and original historical documents, relevant legal studies, memoirs, interviews with key players and analyses by political commentators. In addressing the complexities of the dispute, the book offers fresh insight on the historical, political, legal, regional and international dimensions of the islands issue for the benefit of policy-makers, academics, researchers and decision-makers concerned with the future security and stability of the Gulf region.

An authoritative and wide-ranging book uncovering the rich heritage of the United Arab Emirates, its political renaissance and its modern transformation into one of the most developed nations in the world.

Unresolved territorial disputes have historically raised tensions between nations, often leading to regional destabilization and international repercussions. The issue of the three occupied UAE islands in the Persian Gulf - the Greater and Lesser Tunbs and Abu Musa - deserves particular attention because it threatens to undermine regional security and has potential global implications. Given the commanding position of the islands over the major shipping lanes of the Gulf and their strategic location in the vicinity of important offshore oilfields, the continuing Iranian occupation of these key islands is a matter of both regional and broader international concern. Documenting the historical record and examining the relevant international precedents, this comprehensive study assesses the legal and sovereign rights of the United Arab Emirates over the three islands. The study is based on extensive research in both primary and secondary sources: declassified British and US archival records and original historical documents, relevant legal studies, memoirs, interviews with key players and analyses by political commentators. In addressing the complexities of the dispute, the book offers fresh insight on the historical, political, legal, regional and international dimensions of the islands issue for the benefit of policy-makers, academics, researchers and decision-makers concerned with the future security and stability of the Gulf region.

The position of the Persian Gulf as the main highway between East and West has long given this region special significance both within the Middle East and in global affairs more generally. This book examines the history of international relations in the Gulf since the 1820s as great powers such as Britain and the US, and regional powers such as Iran and Iraq, vied for supremacy over this geopolitically vital region. It focuses on the struggle for control over the islands of the Gulf, in particular the three islands of Abu Musa, Greater Tunb and Lesser Tunb – an issue that remains highly contentious today. It describes how for 170 years Britain eroded Iranian influence in the Gulf, both directly by asserting colonial rule over Iranian islands and port districts, and also through claiming Iranian islands for their protégés on the Arab littoral. It shows how, after Britain's withdrawal, these islands became a pawn in the animosity and conflict that pitted, at one time, Arab radicals and nationalists against monarchical Iran, and, later, the conservative-moderate Arab camp against Islamic Iran. It goes on to explore the impact of the rise of American power in the Gulf since the start of the 1990s, its policy of containment of Iran and Iraq, and how this has provided encouragement to the ambitions of the Persian Gulf Arab littoral states, especially the UAE, towards the islands of the Gulf.

The seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates were little known until the spectacular success of Dubai. The branding of the city not only raised awareness of Dubai, and brought Emiratis one of the highest standards of living in the world, it also spread positive representations of the UAE to the world at large, in striking contrast to more familiar representations of the Middle East. Advertising campaigns built a near-perfect image. The city's bold architecture, such as Burj al Arab, and futuristic projects such as the Palm Islands, helped create an image of modernity, and themes like luxury, personal safety, and excellent service were successfully used to alter western perceptions of the Arab world. Yet how does the image compare with the reality? William Gueraiche's work is the first scholarly study of the UAE's campaign to establish itself on the international stage and to explore the impact that its economic transformation has had on the country. In particular the author compares the image – a country that is an icon of modernity open to globalization and dialogue with the western world – and the reality – a society that nonetheless seeks to maintain a closely guarded Islamic ethos. Emirati society remains at core conservative and the preservation of Arab-Islamic identity remains important, yet the UAE has the highest proportion of foreigners of any country in the world. What does this mean for the identity of Emiratis living there and what are the implications for foreigners working there? In this engaging and deeply researched book the author also explores the environmental costs of the Dubai lifestyle – manifest in the world's highest electricity and water consumption per capita – its 'Look East' policy and increasing volume of trade with eastern Asia, and the ways in which the UAE has sought to challenge the traditional hegemony of Saudi Arabia in the region. In a final chapter the author examines the impact of the economic depression that called the whole representation of Dubai into question. Offering a fresh perspective that goes beyond the usual polarisation of either denigrating the country or commending it unreservedly, William Gueraiche's important book will be welcomed by all those with an interest in the UAE, modernity and the wider Middle East.

The Gulf Islands Dispute offers an international law analysis of the conflict between Iran and the UAE over ownership of three Gulf islands. The conclusions reached are based on centuries of Gulf history and challenge the positions of both parties.