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The Philippine Consulate General in
Dubai covers the following Emirates in the UAE:
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Dubai
Very little is known about pre-Islamic culture in the south-east Arabian peninsula, except that many ancient towns
in the area were trading centers between the Eastern and Western worlds. The remnants of an ancient mangrove swamp,
dated at 7,000 years, were discovered during the construction of sewer lines near Dubai Internet City. The area had
been covered with sand about 5,000 years ago as the coastline retreated inland, becoming a part of the city's present
coastline. Prior to Islam, the people in this region worshiped Bajir (or Bajar). The Byzantine and Sassanian empires
constituted the great powers of the period, with the Sassanians controlling much of the region. After the spread of
Islam in the region, the Umayyad Caliph, of the eastern Islamic world, invaded south-east Arabia and drove out the
Sassanians. Excavations undertaken by the Dubai Museum in the region of Al-Jumayra (Jumeirah) indicate the existence
of several artifacts from the Umayyad period.[15] The earliest recorded mention of Dubai is in 1095, in the "Book of
Geography" by the Spanish-Arab geographer Abu Abdullah al-Bakri. The Venetian pearl merchant Gaspero Balbi visited the
area in 1580 and mentioned Dubai (Dibei) for its pearling industry. Documented records of the town of Dubai exist only
after 1799.
In the early 19th century, the Al Abu Falasa clan (House of Al-Falasi) of Bani Yas clan established Dubai, which
remained a dependent of Abu Dhabi until 1833. On 8 January 1820, the sheikh of Dubai and other sheikhs in the region
signed the "General Maritime Peace Treaty" with the British government. However, in 1833, the Al Maktoum dynasty (also
descendants of the House of Al-Falasi) of the Bani Yas tribe left the settlement of Abu Dhabi and took over Dubai from
the Abu Fasala clan without resistance. Dubai came under the protection of the United Kingdom by the "Exclusive Agreement"
of 1892, with the latter agreeing to protect Dubai against any attacks from the Ottoman Empire. Two catastrophes struck
the town during the mid 1800s. First, in 1841, a smallpox epidemic broke out in the Bur Dubai locality, forcing residents
to relocate east to Deira. Then, in 1894, fire swept through Deira, burning down most homes. However, the town's
geographical location continued to attract traders and merchants from around the region. The emir of Dubai was keen to
attract foreign traders and lowered trade tax brackets, which lured traders away from Sharjah and Bandar Lengeh, which
were the region's main trade hubs at the time.
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Sharjah
Historically, Sharjah was one of the wealthiest towns in this region with a settlement in existence for over 5000 years.
In the early 18th century the Qawasim clan (Huwayla tribe) established itself in Sharjah, c. 1727 declaring Sharjah independent.
On 8 January 1820, Sheikh Sultan I signed the General Maritime Treaty with Britain, accepting a protectorate to keep the
Ottoman Turks out. Like four of its neighbours, Ajman, Dubai, Ras al-Khaimah, and Umm al-Qaiwain, its position on the route
to India made it important enough to be recognized as a salute state.
On 2 December 1971, Sheikh Khalid III joined the United Arab Emirates. Like the other former Trucial States, Sharjah's
name is known by many stamp collectors because of the large numbers of stamps that were issued by the Sharjah Post Office
shortly before the formation of the United Arab Emirates. Many of these items feature subjects unrelated to the emirates
whose names they bear, and therefore many popular catalogues do not list them.
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Ajman
Ajman is one of the seven emirates comprising the United Arab Emirates (UAE). With an area of just 260 square kilometres,
Ajman is the smallest emirate by area. Its seat of government is Ajmān, which is surrounded to its north, south, and east by Sharjah.
Located along the Persian Gulf, Ajman also controls Masfut and Manama, two small, inland enclaves that are primarily agricultural.
Approximately 95% of the population of the emirate resides in the city of Ajman. The population was only 36,100 in 1980 but grew considerably
in recent years, due to an influx of people from the neighbouring emirates of Dubai, Sharjah, and other countries. Ajman is ruled by Humaid
bin Rashid Al Nuaimi of the Al Nuaimi tribe. The Crown Prince of the Emirate is Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi.
Ajmān has experienced massive development and a construction boom in recent years.
On 8 January 1820, Sheikh Rashid ibn Humayd Al Nuaimi signed the General Maritime Treaty with Britain, accepting a protectorate
to keep the Ottoman Turks out. Like four of Ajmān's neighbors, Sharjah, Dubai, Ras al-Khaimah and Umm al-Qaiwain,
its position on the route to India made it important enough to be
recognized as a salute state.
On 2 December 1971, Sheikh Rashid ibn Humayd Al Nuaimi joined the United Arab Emirates.
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Ras-Al Khaima
The city was historically known as Julfar. Sources say that Julfar was inhabited by the Azd (They were a branch of the Kahlan
tribe, which was one of the two branches of Qahtan (the aboriginal Arabs), the other being Himyar.) during the eighth and ninth
centuries AD, and that the houses of the Azd were built of wood.
In the early 18th century the Qawasim clan (Huwayla tribe) established itself in Ras al-Khaimah.
After British occupation (18 December 1819 - July 1821), Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr al-Qasimi signed in 1822 the
General Maritime Treaty with Britain, accepting a protectorate to keep the Ottoman Turks out. Like Ajman, Dubai, Umm al-Qaiwain
and Sharjah, its position on the route to India made it important enough to be recognized as a salute state
(though of the lowest class: only 3 guns).
In 1869 Ras al-Khaimah became fully independent from Sharjah. However from September 1900 to 7 July 1921 it was re-incorporated
into Sharjah, its neighbour; the last governor became its next independent ruler.
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Umm Al Quwain
In 1775 Sheikh Majid
Al Mualla, founder of the ruling Al Mualla lineage of the Al `Ali
clan, established an independent sheikdom in Umm al-Quwain.
On 8 January 1820, Sheikh Abdullah I signed the General Maritime
Treaty with the United Kingdom, thus accepting a British
protectorate in order to keep the Ottoman Turks out. Like four of
its neighbours, Ajman, Dubai, Ras al-Khaimah and Sharjah, its
position on the route to India made it important enough to be
recognized as a salute state.
On 2 December 1971, Sheikh Ahmad II joined the United Arab Emirates
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Fujairah
Fujairah is one of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates, on the Gulf of Oman in the country's east.
The Emirate of Fujairah covers 1,150 km² (440 sq mi), or about 1.5% of the area of the U.A.E. Its population is around 130,000 inhabitants.
Only the Emirate of Umm al-Quwain has fewer occupants.
Fujairah is the only Emirate of the U.A.E. that is almost totally mountainous. All the other Emirates, like Dubai and Abu Dhabi are located
on the west coast, and are largely covered by desert. Therefore, Fujairah boasts a higher than average yearly rainfall, allowing farmers in
the region to produce one meaningful crop every year.
The weather is seasonal, although it is warm for most of the year. The months of October to March are generally regarded as the coolest,
with daytime temperatures averaging around 25 °C (77 °F) and rarely venturing above 30 °C (86 °F) with temperatures climbing to over 40 °C (104 °F)
degrees in the summer. The winter period also coincides with the rainy season and although by no means guaranteed, this is when Fujairah experiences
the bulk of its precipitation. Rainfall is higher than the rest of the U.A.E. partly because of the effect of the mountains that encircle the Emirate,
and partly because the prevailing winds are westerly bringing with them water-laden clouds off the warm Indian Ocean.
The variability of the east coast climate is partly due to the presence of the Hajjar mountain range. As with other mountainous areas, precipitation
is higher, and this allows for a more varied micro-environment in the area. Tourists may thus be drawn to the uniqueness of Fujairah, with visitor numbers
peaking just before the school summer months.
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