Under the Flag of Occupation

Hardcover, xvi + 183 pages, NOT ex-library. Translated from the Arabic. Book looks unread, clean and bright throughout with unmarked text, free of inscriptions and stamps, firmly bound. Bright untorn dust jacket with gentle creases along the edges. -- This historical work presents a well-documented account of the British colonial presence in the Emirate of Sharjah during the first half of the 20th century. Written by the current ruler of Sharjah, a trained historian with a PhD, the book draws heavily on previously inaccessible local, private, and state archives to construct a powerful counter-narrative to the traditional British imperial perspective of benevolent protection. The study's central focus is the establishment and impact of the British Royal Air Force (RAF) base and Imperial Airways stopover in Sharjah, detailing the methods of political and economic coercion used by the British Political Agent to secure the agreement. It provides a detailed, year-by-year chronicle of events, revealing the profound and often detrimental effects of the occupation on the Emirate's sovereignty, economy, and social fabric. This book serves as both a vital primary source document and a significant work of revisionist history.…