The Uae, Qatar, And Bahrain: Why Separate?

Qatar and Bahrain are not part of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) due to historical rivalries and political differences. In the 1960s, there were discussions about forming a nine-member federation of Gulf states, including Qatar, Bahrain, and the Trucial States (present-day UAE). However, this union faced challenges due to Iranian claims on Bahrain, which made the other emirates uncomfortable due to potential Iranian hostility. Bahrain's independence was eventually secured through a UN-sponsored plebiscite in 1970, and it declared independence in 1971, followed by Qatar shortly after. Since then, Qatar and Bahrain have had independent trajectories, with Bahrain facing challenges due to its population size and lack of wealth, and Qatar facing diplomatic crises with the UAE and other Gulf countries over its engagement with Islamist groups.

Qatar and Bahrain had a long-standing rivalry

Qatar and Bahrain have a long history of rivalry, which has impacted their relationship with the UAE. The roots of this rivalry can be traced back to the 19th century, when both countries were engaged in territorial disputes and political enmity.

In the 1850s and 1860s, the relations between Qatar and Bahrain deteriorated due to a series of conflicts, including the Battle of Mesaimeer in 1851, which created lasting political enmity between the two nations. This enmity was further exacerbated by the presumption of Bahrain's Al Khalifa ruling family that their annual tribute to the Wahhabis had effectively given them dominion over Qatar. The appointment of Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa as the Bahraini representative in Qatar, despite his marital ties to Qatar's Al Thani family, further inflamed tensions due to his harsh treatment of the Qatari people.

The rivalry between Qatar and Bahrain escalated into armed conflict during the Qatari-Bahraini War in 1867-1868. This war, also known as the Qatari War of Independence, resulted in widespread destruction in both countries and was a flagrant violation of the 1835 maritime truce, requiring British intervention. The conflict was sparked by the "Al Wakrah Incident," in which a Qatari Bedouin was arrested and deported to Bahrain, leading to a series of retaliatory actions and eventually culminating in a naval attack on Qatar by Bahraini and Abu Dhabi forces. The Second Destruction of Doha, which occurred during this conflict, was particularly brutal, with the town's inhabitants compelled to flee as their homes and possessions were destroyed.

In the aftermath of the Qatari-Bahraini War, the British recognized the Al-Thani family of Qatar as the semi-independent ruler of Qatar, marking a significant shift in the region's power dynamics. However, the rivalry between Qatar and Bahrain persisted, and in the 20th century, both countries engaged in territorial disputes over the Hawar Islands, Fasht Al Azm, Fasht Dibal, Qit'at Jaradah, and Zubarah. These disputes were only resolved in 2001 by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which awarded sovereignty of the territories based on historical claims and evidence presented by both nations.

In addition to territorial disputes, Qatar and Bahrain have also clashed over citizenship issues and foreign policy decisions. In 2014, Bahrain accused Qatar of offering Bahraini families Qatari citizenship, threatening Bahrain's demographics as the majority of its population is Shia while the ruling family is Sunni. This incident led to a brief recall of ambassadors and heightened tensions between the two countries.

The rivalry between Qatar and Bahrain has also played out in the realm of international relations, with both countries taking opposing stances on issues such as normalization with Syria and Israel. Qatar's pragmatic relationship with Shi'a-led Iran has further fanned the fears of Bahrain's Sunni Al Khalifa royal family, ruling over a restive Shia majority.

While Qatar and Bahrain have recently taken steps towards rapprochement, their shared history is marked by rivalry and conflict, influencing their respective relationships with the UAE and shaping the geopolitical landscape of the region.

Bahrain was geographically distant from the other emirates

Bahrain's location made it politically unreliable in the eyes of the other emirates. As the seat of the British colonial residency, its politics were more complicated, with very active and occasionally violent leftist movements, such as the Popular Front for the Liberation of the Occupied Arabian Gulf.

The distance also meant that Bahrain had a different history and state structure to the other emirates. It had been part of the Safavid Empire between 1602 and 1717, and was later conquered by the Omanis and then the Utubees, from whom the Al Khalifa dynasty emerged. This history of conquest led to the Wahhabis and Omanis attempting to conquer the Al Khalifa holding, and the payment of tribute to the Shahs of Iran, and occasionally the Wahhabis and Omanis.

The geographic distance between Bahrain and the other emirates was a contributing factor in Bahrain's independence, as it had a different history and political structure to the other emirates, which saw it as unreliable.

The emirates had concerns about Bahrain's economic viability

Bahrain was not a particularly wealthy emirate, and its larger population meant that the other emirates were concerned it would be a drain on their resources. This was one of the key issues that made the nine-state union unlikely.

Bahrain was geographically the most distant of the emirates, and its politics were complicated by active and sometimes violent leftist movements. The other emirates may have seen it as politically unreliable.

In addition, Iran's claim on Bahrain made the emirates with strong relations with Iran uncomfortable. The prospect of Iranian hostility was unappealing to the eight Arab states, and they gave Bahrain a three-month deadline to solve the Iranian issue or face exclusion from the union.

Bahrain's rulers felt that they had been spoken ill of by the other Emirati states, and their attempts to set the record straight during a delegation visit to the UK were hampered by negative opinions voiced by the other emirates about them.

The emirates also had reservations about the location of the capital, with Bahrain pushing for the prospective Union council to be based on the population sizes of the territories. This proposal was rejected by all the emirates except Sharjah and Abu Dhabi.

Iran's claim on Bahrain made the other emirates uncomfortable

Iran's claim on Bahrain as its "14th province" has historically made the other emirates uncomfortable. This claim is based on Bahrain's history as part of the Persian Empire, with the country being a prominent part of the Sasanian Empire and the Safavid dynasty. In 1968, the Trucial States (the present-day UAE), Bahrain, and Qatar held talks to establish a nine-member federation of Gulf states. However, Iran's opposition, fuelled by the Shah's claim on Bahrain, complicated these negotiations.

The other emirates were wary of Iranian hostility and did not want Bahrain to join the union without resolving the sovereignty dispute. In fact, Zayed, the ruler of Abu Dhabi, stated that "all the Arab governments lined up together, could not face the Iranian forces." The eight Arab states gave Bahrain a three-month deadline to resolve the Iranian issue or face exclusion from the union. This led to the issue being taken to the UN, and a UN-sponsored plebiscite in Bahrain revealed a desire for independence as an Arab state. The Shah later renounced Iranian claims on Bahrain, but this episode highlighted the other emirates' discomfort with Iran's assertions of sovereignty over Bahrain.

The situation was further exacerbated by Bahrain's stance during the negotiations. No longer facing Iranian claims, Bahrain opposed the idea of locating the capital at the Abu Dhabi-Dubai border. Additionally, Bahrain pushed for the Union Council to be based on the population sizes of the territories, which was rejected by all the emirates except Sharjah and Abu Dhabi. As a result of ongoing disagreements and frustration, Bahrain exited the talks and declared independence on August 15, 1971, with Qatar following suit soon after.

The episode highlights the significant impact of Iran's claim on Bahrain, which ultimately contributed to Bahrain and Qatar's decision to remain outside the UAE. The other emirates' wariness of Iranian hostility and their desire to avoid potential conflict influenced their stance on Bahrain's inclusion in the union. This dynamic played a crucial role in shaping the geopolitical landscape of the region.

Qatar and the UAE cut diplomatic ties in 2017

The exact reasons for the break in diplomatic relations in 2017 are unclear, but several events in April and May 2017 have been attributed to the crisis. In April 2017, Qatar was involved in a deal with Sunni and Shi'ite militants in Iraq and Syria to secure the return of 26 Qatari hostages, including Qatari royals, and to allow humanitarian aid to pass through and evacuate civilians. What outraged Saudi Arabia and the UAE was the amount of money Qatar paid to secure the deal, which included payments to Iranian-backed Shi'a militias in Iraq.

Another contributing factor was the hacking of the Qatar News Agency website and other government media platforms in May 2017, resulting in the posting of false remarks attributed to the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, expressing support for Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, and Israel. Despite Qatar's denial of the statements, they were widely publicized in non-Qatari Arab news media, including UAE-based outlets.

On June 5, 2017, the UAE, along with Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Bahrain, officially severed ties with Qatar, accusing it of supporting terrorism and aligning too closely with Iran. This included expelling Qatari nationals, prohibiting citizens from traveling to Qatar, and closing off airspace and territorial waters to Qatari vessels. The crisis lasted until 2021, when diplomatic ties were restored.

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