other · Arabia and the Gulf

Federation of Arab Emirates of the South

1959 CE – 1962 CE · capital Al Ittihad

The British-sponsored union of protected states in the Aden hinterland, created in 1959 to secure Britain's base at Aden.

Origins

Facing Arab nationalism and claims by the Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen, Britain encouraged the rulers of the Western Aden Protectorate to federate. On 11 February 1959 six states, the Audhali Sultanate, Emirate of Beihan, Emirate of Dhala, Fadhli Sultanate, Lower Yafa Sultanate and Upper Aulaqi Sheikhdom, signed the federation treaty with Britain.

Rule and society

The federation had a supreme council of rulers and a federal government at Al Ittihad, a new capital built near Aden. Britain kept responsibility for defence and foreign affairs and provided aid and the Federal Regular Army. Other states, including the Sultanate of Lahej, joined in the following years.

Decline and legacy

In April 1962 the federation was renamed the Federation of South Arabia, in preparation for the entry of the Colony of Aden in 1963.

Lineage

Federation of Arab Emirates of the SouthFederation of South Arabia 1962 CE – 1967 CE

Connections (9)

  • Federation of Arab Emirates of the South was a protectorate of British Empire1959 CE – 1962 CE
  • Sultanate of Lahej was part of Federation of Arab Emirates of the South1959 CE – 1962 CE
  • Fadhli Sultanate was part of Federation of Arab Emirates of the South1959 CE – 1962 CE
  • Audhali Sultanate was part of Federation of Arab Emirates of the South1959 CE – 1962 CE
  • Emirate of Beihan was part of Federation of Arab Emirates of the South1959 CE – 1962 CE
  • Emirate of Dhala was part of Federation of Arab Emirates of the South1959 CE – 1962 CE
  • Lower Aulaqi Sultanate was part of Federation of Arab Emirates of the South1959 CE – 1962 CE
  • Lower Yafa Sultanate was part of Federation of Arab Emirates of the South1959 CE – 1962 CE
  • Aqrabi Sheikhdom was part of Federation of Arab Emirates of the South1960 CE – 1962 CE

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Cite this page
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Federation of Arab Emirates of the South. In The Epoch Institute States Register. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/federation-of-arab-emirates-of-the-south
MLA
“Federation of Arab Emirates of the South.” The Epoch Institute States Register, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/federation-of-arab-emirates-of-the-south. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Federation of Arab Emirates of the South.” The Epoch Institute States Register. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/federation-of-arab-emirates-of-the-south.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Federation of Arab Emirates of the South’, The Epoch Institute States Register. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/federation-of-arab-emirates-of-the-south (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random state ↻