<P> By 1966 , the British government had come to the conclusion that it could no longer afford to govern what is now the United Arab Emirates . Much deliberation took place in the British parliament , with a number of MPs arguing that the Royal Navy would not be able to defend the Trucial Sheikhdoms . Denis Healey , who , at the time , was the UK Secretary of State for Defence , reported that the British Armed Forces were severely overextended , and in some respects , dangerously under - equipped to defend the Sheikhdoms . On 24 January 1968 , British Prime Minister Harold Wilson announced the decision to end the treaty relationships with the seven Trucial Sheikhdoms which had been , together with Bahrain and Qatar , under British protection . The British decision to withdraw was reaffirmed in March 1971 by Prime Minister Edward Heath . </P>
<P> By 1966 , the British government had come to the conclusion that it could no longer afford to govern what is now the United Arab Emirates . Much deliberation took place in the British parliament , with a number of MPs arguing that the Royal Navy would not be able to defend the Trucial Sheikhdoms . Denis Healey , who , at the time , was the UK Secretary of State for Defence , reported that the British Armed Forces were severely overextended , and in some respects , dangerously under - equipped to defend the Sheikhdoms . On 24 January 1968 , British Prime Minister Harold Wilson announced the decision to end the treaty relationships with the seven Trucial Sheikhdoms which had been , together with Bahrain and Qatar , under British protection . The British decision to withdraw was reaffirmed in March 1971 by Prime Minister Edward Heath . </P>
when did the united arab emirates gain independence
when did the united arab emirates gain independence
1968
1968