United Arab Emirates

Postal Services in the United Arab Emirates started in 1909 when the first Branch Office was opened in Dubai among other postal agencies in the Gulf area by the Indian Postal Administration, then under British rule, from Karachi. Indian stamps in values of the Indian currency of Rupees and Annas were used. After the division of India, the Branch Post Office was taken over by Pakistan. Stamps of India overprinted "PAKISTAN" were put to use.

On April I, 1948 the postal administration in Dubai was taken over the British Postal administration. British stamps with portraits to the reigning monarchs King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II, along with some other stamps were used. British control of the postal service ceased in 1963. Dubai issued its first set of stamps on June 15, 1963. It had earlier issued a set for common use by the other Emirates in 1961, but this was used only in Dubai as no other Emirate had a post office.

Postal service in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi was established on March 30, 1963 and stamps of the British Postal Agencies in Eastern Arabia were used until March 29, 1964 when the postal service came under the British Postal Administration. Abu Dhabi is- sued its first set of stamps on March 30, 1964. The Emirate took over its postal service on January 1, 1967.

During the year 1963 and 1964, post offices opened in the Emirate of Sharjah, Ajman, Ras al Khaima, Fujaira and Umm al Quwain, which were linked to Dubai Post Office for despatch of their mail through the airport of Dubai. Each Emirate began to issue its own stamps.

On August I, 1972, the postal service of the United Arab Emirates was united under a Federal Decree and the General Post administration was established under the Ministry of Communications. It decided to overprint the stamps of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi with the words "United Arab Emirates" for use in all the Emirates. The first stamps of the United Arab Emirates were issued by the General Postal Administration on January 1, 1973 with a set of twelve definitive values which included a portrait of His Highness Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi.

In 1985, the General Postal Authority was established under a Federal Decree. It has followed a balanced and conservative stamp-issuing policy which has gained respect in the philatelic world and has resulted in a great demand for the stamps of the United Arab Emirates by collectors both at home and abroad.