Situated on the India trade route, the UAE, the then seven Arab Sheikdoms, were of strategic importance. In the 1800s the UAE coast had become notorious as the pirate coast with trading ships being robbed. Whoever controlled the region would enjoy an upper hand in trade. In the 1820s, the seven Sheikdoms became British Protectorates. The region gained independence in December 1971. With the British gone, the seven Sheikhdoms came together to form the United Arab Emirates.

The culture of the UAE is steeped in Islam and tradition. Islam reflects its influences on every sphere of life including art, music and literature. Like other Islamic nations, great importance is given to tradition, family and social institutions like marriage.

The UAE is situated on the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula, in the Middle East Asia. It includes about 200 offshore islands, coral reefs and salt marshes, along the Persian Gulf. The southern and western parts of the country are mainly dry with a desert landscape, while the east coast is a fertile plain, conducive to agricultural activities. UAE shares boarders with Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the Persian Gulf in the north.