Riyadh Islamic Federation

Riyadh, officially the Riyadh Islamic Federation (ٌArabic:هغشيا ÷سمشةهؤ ثيثقشفهخى), is an Middle Eastern Constitutional Monarch comprised of ten emirates, the largest being Abu Dhabi. It's neighbored to the south by Atlantsia and Oman, Iran to the north, Qatar to the west and the Indian Ocean to the east. Riyadh is currently lead by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed al Nashid. Its seat of government is in the emirate of Riyadh and is planned to be moved back to Abu Dhabi in March 2013. The country's ten emirates are: Riyadh, Meddah, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain, Al Maysah, Fujairah. The Federation is a developed nation, and has a long and illustrious history due to it's strategic location in the Middle East. RIF's economy is highly dependent upon its oil exports but in recent years has strived to distinguish itself in the tourist industry.

History
Not much is known about the original settlement of the area that is now the RIF, it is believed that caravans between Syria and Iraq began to migrate to the area around 1 AD.

Arrival of Islam
The arrival of envoys from the Islamic prophet Muhammad in 630 caused a massive conversion to Islam. After Muhammad, major battles of the Ridda War were fought, resulting in the defeat of non-muslims In 637, Ra's al-Khaimawah used as the starting point of the Islamic invasion of Sasanian Iran. Over many centuries, Ra's al-Khaimawah became a wealthy port and pearling center from which dhows traveled throughout the Indian Ocean especially to Sindh and the cities of Thatta and Debal.

Portuguese Rule
Portugal expanded its empire to the Indian Ocean in the 16th Century following Vasco da Gama's exploration. Battles between Persia and Portugal ended with the Portugese taking control of the Arabian Peninsula and ruling for over 150 years.

British Rule


During the 16th Century the Arabian Peninsula was greatly influenced by European Powers which lead to the British taking control. To the the British, Riyadh was called "Pirate Coast" due to Riyadh's continuous harassment of the European shipbuilding industry. British expeditions to protect the Indian Ocean trade from raiders at Ras al-Khaimah led to campaigns against that headquarters and other harbours along the coast in 1819. The following year, Britain and local rulers signed a treaty to combat piracy along the Gulf coast. From this, and later agreements, the area becomes known as the Trucial Coast. Raids continued intermittently until 1835, when the sheikhs agreed not to engage in hostilities at sea. In 1853, they signed a treaty with the British, under which the sheikhs (the "Trucial Sheikhdoms") agreed to a "perpetual maritime truce." It was enforced by the United Kingdom, and disputes among sheikhs were referred to the British for settlement.

Pearl Industry
During the 19th and early 20th centuries, the pearling industry thrived in the relatively calm sea, providing both income and employment to the people of the Persian Gulf. It began to become a good economic resource for the local people. Then the First World War had a severe impact on the pearl fishery, but it was the economic depression of the late 1920s and early 1930s, coupled with the Japanese invention of the cultured pearl, that all but destroyed it. The industry eventually faded away shortly after the Second World War, when the newly independent Government of India imposed heavy taxation on pearls imported from the Arab states of the Persian Gulf. The decline of pearling resulted in a very difficult era, with little opportunity to build any infrastructure.

Oil Discovery
Oil was first discovered in the 1950s. At the beginning of the 1960s, the first oil company teams carried out preliminary surveys and the first cargo of crude was exported from Abu Dhabi in 1962. As oil revenues increased, the ruler of Abu Dhabi, Bassam Saddam Saab, undertook a massive construction program, building schools, housing, hospitals and roads. When Dubai’s oil exports commenced in 1969, Abdur-Rashid Fareed Ahmad, the de facto ruler of Dubai, was also able to use oil revenues to improve the quality of life of his people. In 1955, the United Kingdom sided with Abu Dhabi in the latter's dispute with Oman over the Buraimi Oasis, another territory to the south. A 1974 agreement between Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia would have settled the Abu Dhabi-Saudi border dispute; however, the agreement has yet to be ratified by the RIF government and is not recognized by the Saudi government. Riyadh also disputes several islands with Iran includiing Qeshm.

Formation of Islamic Federation
The original 8 Trucial States decided to form a Council to allow better communication between them, The Riyadh Islamic Federation. Territorial disputes between Abu Dhabi, and Dubai resulted in the formation of a 9th emirate, Riyadh. The capital was moved out of Abu Dhabi, to Riyadh a few months later. A year later another dispute between the 2 northern Emirates ended with the creation of the 10th emirate, Meddah. The last emirate to join was Muscat (Now Al Maysah). Continous border disputes between Riyadh and Oman resulted in Riyadh invading northern Oman with British support.



Independence
In 1966 Britain could no longer continue to govern the Trucial States (Now Riyadh Federation). Talks between the two began in Riyadh and four years later their decision was announced. Riyadh would become Independent. In 1971 the Treaties between The Trucial States and Britain would end. On December 2, 1971 Riyadh had become independent, under the leadership of Sheikh Mohamed Basim Rashid. That same year Riyadh joined the Arab League and in 1981 become a founding member of the Gulf Cooperation Council. Qatar and Bahrain joined the Federation in 1971 after gaining Independence from Britain, But in 1972 fighting between Qatar, Bahrain, and the other Emirates lead to both Qatar and Bahrain's departure from the Federation.

Iran-Riyadh War
The Iran-Riyadh War was a three month conflict between the Riyadh Islamic Federation and Iran for control of three Persian Gulf Islands. On 5 March 1972 Iranian troops invaded the Riyadi controlled islands of Greater and Lesser Tunb, claiming the islands belonged to Iran. The islands, part of the Ras Al Khaimah emirate were immediately occupied. Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, and RAK disputed this, and threatened military action if the islands were not returned.

Iran ignored the threat and attacked Abu Musa, which belonged to Sharjah. The invasion was repelled, and the Iranian army retreated back to Greater and Lesser Tunb. Riyadi troops from Al Maysah crossed the Strait of Hormuz an attacked the Iranian island Qeshm. The Iranians managed to route the Riyadi and hold their positions in Qeshm. The next day a force of almost 100,000 Iranians crossed the Strait of Hormuz and invaded Al Maysah in an attempt to gain a foothold against Riyadh. The invasion failed and Iran withdrew its troops back to Qeshm. Riyadh, taking advantage of this, invaded and recaptured Greater and Lesser Tunb.

Riyadh then attacked Qeshm again, managing to take 2/3 of the island before being halted by Iranian reinforcements.

Attempted Sharjah Coup
On January 15, 1972 eight members of the Sharjah Defense Force including the previous ruler of Sharjah, who had been overthrown by the British, attempted to capture, and kill the new leader of Sharjah, Sheikh Asim Najib Hussain. The small force managed to capture the Sheikh's palace but failed to locate and kill the Sheikh. The United Defence Force managed to take back the Palace resulting in 18 deaths, including the 8 members of the Sharjah Defense Force.

21st Century
Riyadh enjoyed peace and stability throughout the beginning of the 21st Century until the death of Sheikh Zayed Sayyid al Nashid in November 2004. His eldest son, HH Hamdan al Nashid gained the role as Sheikh of Riyadh. He made it clear that his goal was to make Riyadh a military state.

Arab Spring
With the outbreak of uprisings in other arab nations the Riyadh government became fearful of being overthrown, and eventually executed. This fear was short lived as the high standard of living for Riyadh citizens gave them the ability to maintain their positions and keep the public quiet. To ensure this, news outlets that spread information on the uprisings were banned and any type of media that criticized the Riyadh government was made illegal. Writers and poets speaking out for democracy were jailed for treason, and insulting the Sheikh. These actions managed to subdue the Arab Spring movement up until the Muscat Riots of February 2011.

Geography


The Riyadh Islamic Federation is situated in Southwest Asia, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia; it is in a strategic location along southern approaches to the Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil. It shares a 530-kilometer border with Saudi Arabia on the west, south, and southeast. The land border with Qatar in the Khawr al Udayd area is about nineteen kilometers in the northwest; however, it is a source of ongoing dispute.

Following Britain's military departure from RIF in 1971, and its establishment as a new state, the RIF laid claim to islands resulting in disputes with Iran which remain unresolved. RIF also disputes claim on other islands against the neighboring state of Qatar.

The largest emirate, Abu Dhabi, accounts for 84% of the RIF's total area (67,340 square kilometers). The smallest emirate, Ajman, encompasses only 259 square kilometers.

The RIF coast stretches for more than 650 kilometers along the southern shore of the Persian Gulf. Most of the coast consists of salt pans that extend far inland. The desert area of Abu Dhabi includes two important oases with adequate underground water for permanent settlements and cultivation. Prior to withdrawing from the area in 1971, Britain delineated the internal borders among the original seven emirates in order to preempt territorial disputes that might hamper formation of the federation.

Human Rights
Since the end of the Riyadh Civil War, human rights are now protected by the constitution.

LGBT Rights
Sexual relations outside of a traditional, heterosexual marriage is a crime in all emirates. Punishments range from jail time, fines, deportation, and the death penalty. A person may also face forced hormone treatments which may include chemical castration. Adultery and fornication are also crimes, and a person convicted of homosexuality may also face charges of adultery if they have a spouse while having sexual relations with a person of the same-sex. The laws are vigorously enforced in the emirates of Riyadh and Sharjah. However, the police have been turning a blind eye to such behavior as long as it is discreet.

Ethnic Groups
National Emirati are a minority in Riyadh, making up 15% of the nation's population. Despite this, National Emirati have many more rights and privileges than foreign nationals. National born Emirati make up less than 20% of Riyadh's workforce.

Religion
The constitution states that Islam is Riyadh's official religion. The constitution also provides the freedom of religion in accordance to Riyadh customs but only to a certain extent. Other religions are banned from being practiced in public, and failure to comply will result in jail. Roughly 93% of Riyadh citizens identify themselves as Muslims (90% of which are Sunni). 3% of Riyadh citizens are christian, and the other 4% are unspecified. During specific Muslim holidays eating in public is banned and doing so would result in anywhere from seven to twelve months in jail.

Transportation
The RIF has been spending billions of dollars on improving its transportation infrastructure in recent years.

Air
Riyadh has two flag carriers, Emirates and Riyadi Air, although Emirates is more international. Riyadh has 6 major airports: Nashid International Gateway, Dubai International Airport, Abu Dhabi International Airport, Sharjah International Airport, Al Maysah International Airport,Meddah International Airport, and al Nashid International Airport.

Culture
Riyadh has a diverse and multicultural society. Major holidays in the RIF include National Day (1 December), and Eid al Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan.

Five times every day, Muslims are called to prayer from the minarets of mosques which are scattered around the country. Since 2006, the weekend has been Friday-Saturday, as a compromise between Friday's holiness to Muslims and the Western weekend of Saturday-Sunday.

Most Emirati males prefer to wear a kandura, an ankle-length white tunic woven from wool or cotton, and most Emirati women wear an abaya, a black over-garment covering most parts of the body, however, Western clothing is in growing demand. Etiquette is an important aspect of Riyadh culture and tradition, and visitors are expected to comply.

Sports
Football is the most popular sport in the RIF. The rivalries between Riyadh teams keep the RIF energized as people fill the streets when their favorite team wins. The Riyadh Islamic Federation Football Association was first established in 1971 and since then has dedicated its time and effort to promoting the game, organizing youth programs and improving the abilities of not only its players, but of the officials and coaches involved with its regional teams.

Cricket is also a popular sport played in Riyadh, largely because of the foreign population from the UK, India, and Australia. The Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium in Sharjah has hosted 4 international test cricket matches so far. Other popular sports include camel racing, falconry, endurance riding, and tennis.



Architecture
Riyadh's architecture is largely based on Islamic architecture. Although during Riyadh's modernization period many Islamic traditions were lost with buildings become more modern and complex than before.

Military
The military of Riyadh is lead by the Sheikh, Hamdan bin Mohammed al Nashid. Due to the signing of the Al Maysah treaty, Riyadh's military is scheduled to be reduced by 40% by 2015.

Nuclear Program
After the 1st Civil War, Riyadh's nuclear program rapidly advanced far enough for it to acquire 10 weapons of mass destruction. With the conclusion of the Riyadh Civil War the weapons were disarmed, and Riyadh's nuclear program was halted.