The 1972 Accession of Ras Al Khaimah That Completed the UAE

The 1972 Accession of Ras Al Khaimah That Completed the UAE

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore why Ras Al Khaimah didn't join the UAE on Founding Day in December 1971, and what changed two months later. They dive into the disputed Tunb islands, the role of Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, the Iranian seizure of the islands, and the diplomatic efforts that brought the seventh emirate into the fold. The conversation reveals how the UAE's final shape was forged through negotiation and pragmatism, and how the lingering island dispute actually reinforced the value of unity. Along the way, they touch on the broader dynamics of British withdrawal, the creation of a unified defence force, and Sheikh Saqr's long reign. A nuanced look at a pivotal but often overlooked chapter in the formation of the United Arab Emirates. #UAE #RasAlKhaimah #SheikhSaqr #TunbIslands #AbuMusa #Iran #1971 #1972 #BritishWithdrawal #UAEFormation #GulfHistory #Shah #SheikhZayed #Sharjah #Federation #Diplomacy #FexingoHistory #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

The 1973 UAE Dirham: From Indian Rupee to National Currency

Before the UAE dirham, the Trucial Coast used the Indian rupee, the Bahraini dinar, and the Qatar and Dubai riyal. This episode traces the messy monetary landscape of the late 1960s, the 1973 Currency Board decision, and how the dirham's launch—featuring falcons, fortresses, and a peg to the SDR—became a symbol of national unity. Lucas and Luna explore how devaluation crises, British withdrawal, and the struggle for economic sovereignty shaped the UAE's first independent currency, and why its design still echoes in the notes used today. #UAEDirham #CurrencyHistory #IndianRupee #TrucialCoast #1973 #MonetaryUnion #CurrencyBoard #Falcon #Fortress #Sovereignty #OilBoom #EconomicHistory #MiddleEast #UAE #Dubai #AbuDhabi #Numismatics #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

The 1960s Trucial Coast Oryx Hunt That Nearly Wiped Out a Species

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how the Arabian oryx, a symbol of the desert, was hunted to the brink of extinction in the 1960s on the Trucial Coast. They discuss the role of motorized hunting parties, the precarious final herds in the Rub al Khali, and Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan's visionary conservation efforts in Al Ain. The conversation touches on the wider context of the oil boom's impact on traditional Bedouin life and how a small, determined captive-breeding program known as Al Maha saved the species. Listeners will learn about the key figures and places involved—from the Liwa Oasis to the Al Ain Zoo—and how the near-loss of the oryx sparked a lasting conservation ethic in the UAE. #UAEHistory #ArabianOryx #Conservation #SheikhZayed #TrucialCoast #RubAlKhali #LiwaOasis #AlAin #AlMaha #Bedouin #OilBoom #Extinction #Wildlife #MiddleEastHistory #ConservationHistory #FexingoHistory #History #Podcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

The 1950s Trucial Coast Camel Race That Defined a Culture

Before the oil boom transformed the Arabian Peninsula, the Trucial Coast was home to a vibrant tradition of camel racing — a sport that was far more than entertainment. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the origins, rules, and cultural significance of the 1950s camel races that brought together Bedouin tribes from the Liwa Oasis to the coast. They discuss the legendary she-camels bred for speed, the role of the nakhuda (camel trainers), the social dynamics of the majlis gatherings around race days, and how the sport survived the decline of pearling and the rise of oil. The episode also touches on the delicate balance between tradition and modernization, and how Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan later championed camel racing as a symbol of Emirati heritage. A concrete, human-scale story of a vanishing way of life. #History #FexingoHistory #UAE #TrucialCoast #CamelRacing #Bedouin #LiwaOasis #SheikhZayed #AlAin #BaniYas #RubAlKhali #Nakhuda #SouqAlJamal #MariaTheresaThaler #Majlis #MiddleEast #Tradition #1950s Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

The 1970s Trucial Coast Land Reclamation That Reshaped Dubai's Coastline

In the 1970s, as oil wealth began flowing, Dubai embarked on an audacious land reclamation project off its coast. This episode explores how Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum commissioned the dredging of the Dubai Creek and the creation of the Palm Jumeirah's precursor — the Shindagha Island — and how Dutch engineers, local pearl divers turned dredger operators, and Bedouin laborers transformed the Trucial Coast's geography. We delve into the technical challenges, the environmental impact on marine life, and how this project set the stage for Dubai's modern skyline. Specific names include: Sheikh Rashid, Dutch engineer Hans van der Molen, and the Al Shindagha dredging fleet. Listeners will learn about the falaj irrigation systems that inspired the palm-shaped islands, the role of the Dubai Creek's natural deep-water channel, and how the 1971 formation of the UAE enabled cross-emirate cooperation on these megaprojects. We also touch on the controversy over sediment displacement and its effect on local fishing grounds, a debate that echoes into today's coastal development. #LandReclamation #DubaiCreek #SheikhRashid #Shindagha #DutchEngineers #TrucialCoast #PalmJumeirah #Falaj #1970sDubai #CoastalEngineering #UAEHistory #PearlingLegacy #BedouinLabor #EnvironmentalImpact #MegaProjects #GulfDevelopment #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]