In the 19th-20th century, the influence of British India extended to the Gulf countries—Dubai, Bahrain, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait. The Sultans, Amirs and Sheikhs of these regions functioned under the Indian Governor-General, that is, under the orders, agreements and machinery of justice issued from Delhi. For many years, ‘Mumbai Port’, the largest port of the Gulf, was the center of trade, correspondence and financial transactions of these countries.
India had everything from land to courts.
Visas, trade contracts, legal matters, land, maritime rights, and even political guidelines were issued by the British administration’s bureaucracy based in Delhi. For example, in the 1930-40s, the rulers of Dubai used to come to India to discuss the welfare of their states and business issues with officials of Bombay, Delhi and Kolkata. The so-called ‘Industrial Court’, Civil Court and Revenue Department here have many times settled real estate, tax and business disputes of Dubai and other Gulf countries.
After India’s independence in 1947, the British government administratively separated the Gulf countries from India as ‘Trucial States’ (protected states), but till then the schools, courts and offices there were dominated by Indian officials.
There are examples in many historical documents that the instructions and rules issued from Delhi had a major impact on the policies, society and economic development of the entire Gulf including Dubai. Even today, the depth of Dubai-India administrative and cultural relations is reminiscent of that era—hence it is said, the India-Dubai relationship is not just limited to trade or expatriate population, but is also linked to governance, law and institutional shared heritage.
