Other key dates in the 1970s

Significant events in the UAE in the 1970s

Aerial photograph of the Hiton Abu Dhabi in 1975.

1971

December 2 Formation of the United Arab Emirates in Dubai (with the exception of Ras Al Khaimah, which will join on February 10, 1972). Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan is the first President.

1972

January 20 Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, announces a 700-million-dinar (Dh6.8bn) contract to supply mains water to Abu Dhabi.
January 25 Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah, is killed during a failed coup mounted by Sheikh Saqr bin Sultan, the former Ruler. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi succeeds him.
February 12 The Federal National Council meets for the first time, with members taking the constitutional oath. Thani bin Abdulla is elected Speaker.
March 29 Sheikh Zayed receives the first UAE ambassadors to be sent overseas. They are Ali Humaidan (United Nations), Saif bin Ghobash (Lebanon) and Taryam Omran Taryam (Egypt). Later in the year, he announces new UAE embassies in Paris, Rabat and Tokyo.
September 7 Sheikh Zayed makes his first official visit to Britain as head of state.
September 21 The UAE joins the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
October 5 Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, inaugurates Port Dubai.
December 2 The first National Day. Egyptian diva Najat Al Saghira sings the new national anthem.

1973

May 19 The launch of the UAE dirham.
May 23 Sheikh Zayed opens the Hilton Abu Dhabi.
July 23 A hijacked Japanese Boeing 747 spends 70 hours at Dubai airport. It is later blown up by the hijackers in Benghazi, Libya, after the passengers are freed.
July 29 The UAE Currency Board announces that the UAE dirham is tied to gold at a rate of one dirham to 0.186621 grams of pure gold.
August 1 The Federal Supreme Court becomes the highest judicial body in the UAE.
September 26 The first traffic lights come into operation in Abu Dhabi.
October 18 Sheikh Zayed announces the UAE will cut supplies of oil to the US as a protest against America's support for Israel in the October (Yom Kippur) war.
November 15 National Day celebrations are cancelled because of the Middle East crisis.
December 23 A new cabinet is formed with Sheikh Rashid as Prime Minister.

1974

January 26 Three days of severe storms in Abu Dhabi cause the destruction of part of the Corniche and flooding in Port Zayed.
January 31 The first direct telephone service between Abu Dhabi and Dubai is inaugurated with a phone call between Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid.
May 15 The World Bank issues bonds in UAE dirhams, the first time the currency has been used in an international transaction.
May 29 Establishment of the UAE Women's Foundation under the patronage of Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, wife of Sheikh Zayed, as the organisation's president.
September 17 Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Ruler of Fujairah, dies. His son, Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, takes over.
December 2 National Day coverage includes the first experimental colour television broadcast in the UAE.
December 10 The first official UAE delegation goes to Haj under the chairmanship of Thani Essa Harib, Minister of Islamic Affairs.

1975

April 2 The opening of Al Maktoum Bridge in Dubai, built at a cost of £1 million.
November 8 Completion of the Jebel Ali satellite station at a cost of £3 million.

1976

February 1 Preliminary results of the UAE's first census show a population of 655,937 at the end of 1975.
April 4 The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (Adia) is formed.
May 6 Unification of the UAE armed forces.
August 30 Emirates Telecommunications Corporation (Etisalat) is founded as a joint stock venture with International Aeradio Limited.
November 22 Sheikh Zayed is unanimously re-elected President.
December 14 Al Garhoud Bridge opens over Dubai Creek; it has the longest span in the UAE.

1977

January 1 Sharjah International Airport opens.
February 25 A three-year plan for Abu Dhabi sets a budget of Dh23.8bn.
March 4 The mineral water company at Masafi is opened by Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Ruler of RAK.
April 26 Women students are admitted to the UAE University for the first time.
June 5 Sheikh Khalifa announces the completion of the merger of the armed forces to create the UAE Army.
September 18 Sheikh Zayed orders the construction of two more carriageways for the Abu Dhabi/Dubai highway.
October 25 Saif bin Ghobash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, is shot dead at Abu Dhabi International Airport while meeting Syria's foreign minister, the intended target.

1978

January 9 A decree from Sheikh Zayed bans the hunting of birds and wild animals across the UAE.
April 8 Direct phone links begin between Sharjah and Fujairah.
April 12 The Red Crescent is officially established in the UAE.
July 26 Sheikh Rashid opens the Dh45m Dubai Dry Docks.
August 15 Maternity leave of up to 45 days is introduced.

1979

February 9 Per capita income in the UAE rises from Dh20,200 in 1972 to Dh60,800 in 1978, according to official figures.
February 24 Britain's Queen Elizabeth begins a state visit to Abu Dhabi and Dubai. In Dubai, she opens the World Trade Centre, the tallest building in the Middle East with a main tower of 149 metres, and inaugurates Jebel Ali Port.

In other news ...

1972 The US embassy opens in the capital. • New electric lights help work on the new port in Abu Dhabi to continue around the clock.  • Heavy rains and flooding in the Northern Emirates kill four and destroy the main road bridge between Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah. • Abu Dhabi Telephone and Telegraph Company announces a direct line to Beirut. 1973 The Brazilian football club Santo, with its star player Pelé, meets Al Nasr, winning 4-0. • A giant Japanese car transporter docks in Abu Dhabi for the first time. • US president Richard Nixon presents Sheikh Zayed with a piece of moon rock. 1974 Sheikh Zayed receives the former (and future) world heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali. • Abu Dhabi International Airport in Al Bateen receives its first Boeing 747. • The new Anglo-French supersonic airliner Concorde calls at Abu Dhabi and Dubai on a demonstration tour of the Middle East. 1975 The one-dirham note is withdrawn from circulation. • The Dubai Museum is opened by Sheikh Rashid. 1976 Bani Yas City is established with plans for 8,000 homes. • Oman and the UAE are connected by telephone for the first time. • Arsenal beats Al Nasr 3-1 in a football friendly match in Dubai with goals from Malcolm MacDonald and John Radford. • National Flour Mills opens in Dubai. 1977 Concorde lands at Sharjah International Airport. 1978 The result of the census shows that on December 31, 1977, the population of the UAE was 862,000. 1979 Sheikh Zayed performs Haj. • The Dubal plant at Jebel Ali produces its first aluminium. • Assistant Judge Ali Abdulla becomes the first UAE citizen to be appointed a federal judge.