In pictures: 50 key milestones in UAE history

Year of the 50th

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Year of the 50th

Special Report

In pictures: 50 key milestones in UAE history

UAE's leadership, government and people are celebrating five decades of achievements

Published: June 07, 2021 06:00 Last updated: June 15, 2021 09:01 Gulf News Archives, Compiled by Devadasan K P, Picture Editor

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1971 DEC 2 1971-1605797662161 — 1971: Dec 2 | Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum with rulers of Emirates at the hoisting of UAE flag. The rulers of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain proclaimed the creation of the new state. Image Credit: WAM/Gulf News archives

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1972 FNC SESSION-1605797652151 — 1972: Feb 12 | The Federal National Council held its first session in line with the vision of the late Shaikh Zayed, who set through his wisdom the foundations of the country. Image Credit: WAM/Gulf News archives

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1973 MAY UAE DIRHAMS-1605797660183 — 1973 | The dirham was introduced as the UAE's currency. Image Credit: Clint Egbert/Gulf News archives

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1974 Shaikh Hamad Bin Mohammad Al Sharqi-1605797575233 — 1974: His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Mohammed Al Sharqi becomes the Ruler of Fujairah. Image Credit: WAM/Gulf News archives

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1976 UAE UNIVERSITY-1605797657955 — 1976: UAE University is established: Founded in 1976 by President Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the university's first academic year was in 1977-78 with an enrolment of 502 students. Sheikh Zayed wanted the UAE University to help bring the people of the UAE together, as well as to offer college education to the increasing number of Emirati students. Image Credit: WAM/Gulf News archives

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1976 UAE ARMED-1605797573566 — 1976: UAE Armed Forces formed by uniting each of the emirates. Image Credit: WAM/Gulf News archives

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1979 Dubai Trade Centre-1605797667147 — 1979: Feb 26 | Dubai Trade Centre is opened by Queen Elizabeth II. Image Credit: WAM/Gulf News archives

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1981 DELMA OIL SZ SR-1605797664241 — 1981: April | President His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan is presented with a sword during his visit to Delma Island to lay the cornerstone of the new petroleum project with Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The foundation was laid for a $700-million project to develop one of the largest oil fields at Delma Island. Image Credit: WAM/Gulf News archives

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1981 Shaikh Humaid Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi-1605797576903 — 1981: Sep 7 | Sheikh Humaid Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi becomes the new Ruler of Ajman. Image Credit: WAM/Gulf News archives

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1981 FIRCT GCC MEETING-1605797579021 — 1981: May 25 | The Gulf Cooperation Council was formally launched in Abu Dhabi, hosted by Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi. Around the table are the heads of state of the other five Arab Gulf states - Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. The leaders agree the broad agenda of closer economic and security cooperation, which was taken forward when the unified economic agreement between the GCC countries was signed on November 11, 1981 in Riyadh. Visible in this picture are (from left) Shaikh Jaber Al Ahmad Al Sabah, Emir of Kuwait, Sultan Qaboos Bin Saeed Al Busaidi, Sultan of Oman, Shaikh Eisa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, Emir of Bahrain, Shaikh Zayed, King Khalid Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, King of Saudi Arabia, and Shaikh Khaifa Bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of Qatar. Image Credit: WAM/Gulf News archives

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1982 ABU DHABI INTL AIRPORT-1605797583020 — 1982: The new Abu Dhabi International Airport begins operations. Image Credit: WAM/Gulf News archives

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1985 EMIRATES AIRLINES-1605797581001 — 1985: Oct 25 | Emirates airline launched. The first Emirates flight, EK600, took off from Dubai to Karachi. Image Credit: Emirates/Gulf News archives

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1991 UAE TROOPS KUWAIT-1605797671306 — 1991: January | Invasion of Kuwait - UAE troops join Operation Desert Storm. Image Credit: WAM/Gulf News archives

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1996 DSF-1605797669283 — 1996: Feb 15 | First Dubai Shopping Festival is inaugurated. Image Credit: Gulf News archives

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1996 Dubai world cup-1605797587426 — 1996: Mar 27 | Dubai hosts world’s richest horse race, $4 million Dubai World Cup. Cigar went into the annals of racing history by winning the inaugural edition of the Dubai World Cup in 1996. Image Credit: Gulf News archives

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1999 Burj Al Arab-1605797673150 — 1999: Dec 1 | Burj Al Arab hotel opens in Dubai. Image Credit: Gulf News archives

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2000 DFM DUBAI-1605797585252 — 2000: March 26 | Dubai Financial Market is officially inaugurated. Image Credit: Gulf News archives

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2000 Dubai Internet City-1605797591778 — 2000: Oct 28 | Dubai Internet city opens. Image Credit: Gulf News archives

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2000 ADSM-1605797593773 — 2000: Nov 15 | Abu Dhabi Securities Market (ADSM), the Abu Dhabi trading floor of the UAE Stock Exchange formally opens. Image Credit: Gulf News archives

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2001- Dubai Media City-1605797589594 — 2001: Jan 20 | Dubai Media City is inaugurated. Image Credit: Gulf News archives

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2003 AIR ARABIA-1605797597912 — 2003: Oct 28 | Air Arabia launches operations with its inaugural flight from Sharjah International Airport to Bahrain. Image Credit: Air Arabia

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2003 ETIHAD-1605797595857 — 2003: Nov 5 | Etihad, designated as the 'national airline of the UAE', is formally launched with a ceremonial flight from Abu Dhabi to Al Ain. Image Credit: Etihad Airways

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2004 SHK KHALIFA PRESIDENT 1-1605797656080 — 2004: His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan becomes President of the UAE. Image Credit: WAM/Gulf News archives

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2004 DIFC-1605797600146 — 2004: Sept 18 | Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) is established. Image Credit: Gulf News archives

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2004 Shaikh Hasher-1605797602187 — 2004: Aug 17 | Sheikh Ahmed Bin Hasher Al Maktoum became the first Emirati to win gold medal at the 2004 Olympics in Athens for Double Trap event. Above, Sheikh Ahmad Hasher Al Maktoum returns home to Dubai after winning a gold medal at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. Image Credit: Gulf News archives

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2004 MBZ November 03,-1605797608137 — 2004: Nov 3 | General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan becomes Abu Dhabi Crown Prince. Image Credit: WAM/Gulf News archives

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2004 EMIRATES PALACE-1605797604469 — 2005: Feb 5 | Emirates Palace Hotel partially opens in Abu Dhabi. Image Credit: Gulf News archives

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2005 FNC SESSION-1605797613033 — 2005: Dec 1 | UAE President announced that for the first time, half the members of the Federal National Council would be elected. Image Credit: Gulf News archives

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2006 MOHAMMAD BIN RASHID-1605797606449 — 2006: Jan 5 | His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum becomes Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Image Credit: WAM/Gulf News archives

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2006 FNC Election-1605797610287 — 2006: Dec 16 | First ever national elections for Federal National Council is held. Image Credit: Gulf News archives

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2009 Irena HQ AD-1605797617273 — 2009: June 29 | UAE becomes the first developing country to host a major international organisation with Abu Dhabi becoming home to the headquarters of the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena). Image Credit: Gulf News archives

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2009 Dubai Metro-1605797619389 — 2009: Sep 9 | Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Dubai Metro, the world’s longest automated driverless train system and the first Metro in the Gulf region. Image Credit: Gulf News archives

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2009 F1 YAS MARINA-1605797615436 — 2009: Nov 1 | Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the first-ever day-night race was held at the Yas Marina Circuit. Image Credit: Gulf News archives

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2009 BURJ KHALIFA OPENING-1605797621450 — 2010: Jan 4 | World’s tallest tower Burj Khalifa opens in Dubai. Image Credit: Gulf News archives

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2010 meydan-1605797625627 — 2010: Jan 28 | The Dh10-billion historic Meydan grandstand and racecourse, home to the world's richest horse race is inaugurated in Dubai. Image Credit: Virendra Saklani/Gulf News archives

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2010 Korean AD-1605797623476 — 2010: Mar 13 | South Korea signs a Memorandum of Agreement (MoU) with UAE to gain access to at least a billion barrels of crude oil reserves in oil deal with Adnoc. President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and General Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces extended a warm welcome to South Korean President Lee Myung-bak at Mushrif Palace in Abu Dhabi. Image Credit: WAM/Gulf News archives

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2013 Khalifa Port-1605797627957 — 2012: Dec 12 | Khalifa Port is inaugurated in Abu Dhabi. Image Credit: WAM/Gulf News archives

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2013 Shams-1605797630065 — 2013: Mar 17 | Shams 1, the world’s largest solar power plant located at Madinat Zayed is inaugurated by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Image Credit: WAM/Gulf News archives

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2013 Dubai Expo-1605797634205 — 2013: Nov 27 | In Paris, Sheikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation and Chairman and CEO of Emirates airline and Group, with UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, celebrate the UAE's winning bid to host Expo 2020 in Dubai. Image Credit: WAM/Gulf News archives

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2014 UAE Military-1605797632339 — 2014: Jan 19 | The UAE Cabinet passes the National Service Law which stipulates compulsory military service for Emirati men aged between 18 to 30 and the service will be voluntary for women. Image Credit: WAM/Gulf News archives

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2014 uae space mars-1605797637885 — 2014: July 16 | UAE announces the creation of the UAE Space Agency to supervise the Mars mission. Image Credit: Dubai Media Office

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2014 dubai Tram-1605797642020 — 2014: Nov 11 | Dubai's newest mode of transport, Dubai Tram, inaugurated. Image Credit: Ahmed Ramzan/Gulf News archives

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2017 Artificial Intelligence-1605797636044 — 2017: Oct 16 | Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum with Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces during the launch of UAE Strategy for Artificial Intelligence, which aims to speed up government’s performance, and create conducive creative environment with high productivity. The strategy is part of the UAE Centennial 2071 objectives. Image Credit: WAM/Gulf News archives

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2017 Louvre Museum-1605797639863 — 2017: Nov 9 | Louvre Museum is inaugurated in Abu Dhabi. Image Credit: Gulf News archives

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2018 KhalifaSat-1605797645834 — 2018: October 29 | KhalifaSat makes history as the first satellite built on UAE soil reaches space. Image Credit: AP

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2018 UAE PASSPORT-1605797643980 — 2018: Dec 1 | The UAE passport has jumped to Number 1 as the world's most powerful passport. With this historic achievement, UAE passport holders are now able to gain visa-free entry to 167 countries worldwide, according to Passport Index. Image Credit: WAM/Gulf News archives

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2019 POPE UAE-1605797650177 — 2019: Feb 3 | Pope Francis becomes the first Pope to ever visit to the UAE. His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, Pope Francis and Dr. Ahmad Al Tayyeb, Grand Imam of Al Azhar, signed the foundation stone for the construction side-by-side of a new ‘Church of Saint Francis’ and ‘Mosque of Grand Imam Ahmad Al Tayyeb’in Abu Dhabi on 4 February 2019. Earlier, the Pope and Al Tayyeb signed a document on ‘Human Fraternity’. Image Credit: WAM/Gulf News archives

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2019 Hazzaa Al Mansoori-1605797647889 — 2019: UAE makes history with the launch of Hazzaa Al Mansoori to space. Image Credit: AFP

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2020 uae hope-1605797654138 — 2020:July 20 | The UAE joined an elite space club with the successful launch of the Hope Probe from Japan. Image Credit: WAM/Gulf News archives

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20210411 Nora Al Matrooshi — 2021: April 10 | The UAE has selected two new Emiratis to be part of its astronaut corps, including the Arab world’s first female astronaut. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, announced on April 10, 2021 that Nora Al Matrooshi and Mohammed Al Mulla had been selected to be part of the country's astronaut corps. Image Credit: WAM

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