How did the United Arab Emirates form after Britain withdrew from the Persian Gulf?

Following the British government's 1968 announcement that it would withdraw its military forces from the Persian Gulf by the end of 1971, the Trucial States initiated plans to form a confederation. Initially, these discussions included the sheikhdoms of Qatar and Bahrain, but after three years of negotiations, both decided to become independent sovereign states instead.12

The formation of the United Arab Emirates was driven largely by the efforts of Sheikh Zayed ibn Sultan Al Nahyan of Abu Dhabi, who served as the principal architect of the federation. He worked closely with Sheikh Rashid ibn Saeed Al Maktoum of Dubai to establish a federal framework. In December 1971, six of the former Trucial States—Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah, and Umm al-Quwain—announced the formation of the U.A.E. Ras al-Khaimah subsequently joined the federation in February 1972.312