Exclusive Agreement

The Exclusive Agreement of 1892 was a treaty signed between the British and the Rulers of the Sheikhdoms of the Lower Gulf, then known as the Trucial States and today the United Arab Emirates. This agreement was important because it created a special relationship between the two groups. Under this treaty, the Rulers of the Trucial States agreed to work only with the British government and not to make any deals about land or territory with any other foreign country.

Because of this agreement, the Trucial States became closely linked with Britain, though they were not officially called a British protectorate at that time. Britain did not call the Sheikhdoms a protectorate until much later, in 1968, when they decided to end all their treaties with the Trucial States.

Finally, on December 1, 1971, all these treaties were ended. This happened just one day before the Trucial States came together to form the United Arab Emirates. The Exclusive Agreement played a big role in the history of the region and how it became the country it is today.

Background

In the 1890s, the Trucial States, now known as the United Arab Emirates, did not have many resources that were important to Britain. Oil was not discovered until much later, in the 1920s. Although pearling was a busy industry, it did not provide money for the British government. The Trucial States were no longer needed to protect Britain's trade route to India after the Suez Canal opened in 1869.

Britain made an agreement called the Exclusive Agreement in 1892 because other countries, like the French, Germans, Ottomans, and Persians, showed interest in the area. For example, a Persian official tried to visit the Trucial States in 1887 and 1888, which worried the British. They wanted to make sure the rulers of the Trucial States would only work with Britain and not make deals with other countries. This agreement made the Trucial States closely linked to Britain, though not officially a British protectorate.

Treaty

The Exclusive Agreement of 1892 was a special promise made between the British and the leaders of several areas now known as the United Arab Emirates. The leaders promised they would only work with the British and not make deals with any other countries about their land or territories.

The treaty was signed in March 1892 by leaders from Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Sharjah, Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah, and later by Bahrain in March 1892. Fujairah joined this agreement much later, in 1952.