UAE Buys Fighter Jets
March 30, 2000
Defense contractor Lockheed Martin and UAE sign a contract for 80 F-16 jets.
GCC Defense Efforts
December 30, 2000
Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE sign a regional defense pact
UAE Cracks Down on Terror Financing
November 30, 2001
Government freezes the accounts of 62 individuals and organizations suspected of funding terrorism.
Female Education Enrollment Increases
January 1, 2002
UAE successfully enrolls 98% of all girls and women eligible for school. 60% of the student body is now female.
Sheikh Khalifa Takes the Throne
November 8, 2004
UAE President Sheikh Zayed Bin-Sultan Al Nahyan dies and is succeeded by his son, Sheikh Khalifa.
UAE Announces First Elections
December 11, 2005
President Sheikh Khalifa announced the first UAE elections. Half of the consultative Federal National Council is elected by a limited number of citizens.
UAE Announces Labor Reform
March 30, 2006
Announces economic changes including the reduction of dependency on foreign labor and legalization of trade unions.
UAE Holds Election.. Kind of
December 25, 2006
Very first national election is held, but voters are a small group of handpicked citizens.
UAE Undertakes Diversification Efforts
April 30, 2007
UAE reveals strategy of national development in order to become a world leader and diversify economy
Qatar and Dubai Invest
September 26, 2007
Qatar and Dubai manage to become the two biggest shareholders of the London Stock Exchange, the world’s third largest.
French Establish a Base in the UAE
January 30, 2008
Government signs a deal allowing France to set up a permanent military base in the country.
Yamadayev Is Assassinated
March 31, 2009
Sulim Yamadayev, rival to the Chechen President, is assassinated in Dubai.
Economic Slowdown in UAE
November 30, 2009
UAE begins to experience economic slowdown and withdraws from the planning table for the Gulf Monetary Union, hampering economic integration in the region.
World’s Tallest Building Completed
January 31, 2010
Burj Khalifa tower, the world’s tallest building, completed in the UAE
UAE Joins Fight in Libya
March 31, 2011
UAE joins international military operations in Libya.
UAE-Iran Island Dispute
April 30, 2012
UAE ambassador to Iran is recalled after a dispute over an island that both countries claim.
Censorship in the UAE
November 30, 2012
In the wake of the Arab Spring, the UAE bans online mockery of the government or organization of protests against the government.
Al-Islah Coup Attempt
July 31, 2013
UAE Government detains 68 members of Al-Islah (affiliates with Muslim Brotherhood) on charges of attempting a coup.
UAE Targets Libya
August 31, 2014
The UAE intervenes in Libya, targeting Islamist militants with airstrikes.
Airstrikes on Houthis
March 31, 2015
The UAE and four other GCC states coordinate Saudi-led air strikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen.
UAE Calls for Saddam’s Resignation
July 1, 2016
At Arab League summit in Sharm el-Sheik, Egypt, UAE calls for Saddam Hussein’s resignation and exile as a possible resolution to the crisis; response from Arab leaders is divided.