Empire: World History 279. Partition: How Dubai Almost Became Part of India (Part 2)
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Aug 6, 2025 
Join Sam Dalrymple, author of Shattered Lands, as he explores the fascinating intersections between the Arabian Peninsula and India. Discover how much of the Gulf was once legally part of the Indian Raj and the influence of Indian nationalists on the founding fathers of Yemen. Unearth stories of a British spy entangled in Cold War intrigue and the strategic decisions that led India to reject control of Dubai before its oil boom. Dive into the colonial echoes that shaped the region's political dynamics and the potential 'what-ifs' of a different historical trajectory.
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Arab-Indian Identity and Divisions
- Some Arabs in Aden, such as Muhammad Ali Luqman, felt strongly Indian and engaged with the Indian nationalist movement.
- Yet growing pan-Arab nationalism and Indian Muslim support for the Ottoman Caliphate created divisions between Arab and Indian Muslims.
Aden Separated From India
- On April 1, 1937, Aden was formally separated from India due to economic and political reasons.
- Indian administration was seen as neglectful, and growing Arab nationalism sought alignment with other Arab centers.
India Declines Gulf Responsibility
- The Indian government declined responsibility for Gulf states as independence neared, viewing them as economic drains.
- Handing Gulf territories to India or Pakistan would have radically changed global geopolitics but was rejected.
