Did Wikipedia remove the word "occupation" from the United Arab Emirates article?

Yes. "occupation" appeared 1 times in this article's opening at its peak. Today the opening has none; the body has 5. We saved the article's opening paragraph at 6 moments between 2020 and 2025, and the counts come from those saved copies.

When did the United Arab Emirates article stop using the word "occupation"?

The word appeared 1 times in the opening at its peak in 2020. It is absent from today's opening, the part search engines quote and AI systems train on, checked against the live article on 2026-08-02.

How can I verify what Wikipedia's United Arab Emirates article used to say?

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United Arab Emirates

The word “occupation” appeared 1 times in this article's opening at its peak in 2020. Today the opening carries none. 5 remain further down the article, where a reader arriving from a search result does not go.

Measured, not asserted. Every count, date and revision on this page was taken from Wikipedia's own history and checked against the live article. The words quoted are theirs.

Machine-checked against the full current article on 2026-08-02. “occupation” appeared 1 times in this article's opening at its peak. Today the opening has none; the body has 5.

We saved snapshots of this article over twenty years; you are reading the 2020 one. Red dashes: removed from Wikipedia since. Pale dots: rewritten; the numbered note shows what it says now. ¹ tap a number or a side note to jump between them

The opening as it read in 2020

The sovereign constitutional monarchy is a federation of seven emirates consisting of Abu Dhabi (which serves as the capital), Ajman , Dubai , Fujairah , Ras Al Khaimah , Sharjah and Umm Al Quwain .¹ Their boundaries are complex, with numerous enclaves within the various emirates.² Each emirate is governed by a ruler; together, they jointly form the Federal Supreme Council .³ One of the rulers serves as the President of the United Arab Emirates . In 2013, the UAE's population was 9.2 million, of which 1.4 million are Emirati citizens and 7.8 million are expatriates . Human occupation of the present UAE has been traced back to the emergence of anatomically modern humans from Africa some 124,000 BCE through finds at the Faya-2 site in Mleiha , Sharjah . Burial sites dating back to the Neolithic Age and the Bronze Age include the oldest known such inland site at Jebel Buhais . Known as Magan to the Sumerians , the area was home to a prosperous Bronze Age trading culture during the Umm Al Nar period , which traded between the Indus Valley , Bahrain and Mesopotamia as well as Iran , Bactria and the Levant . The ensuing Wadi Suq period and three Iron Ages saw the emergence of nomadism as well as the development of water management and irrigation systems supporting human settlement in both the coast and interior. The Islamic age of the UAE dates back to the expulsion of the Sasanians and the subsequent Battle of Dibba . The UAE's long history of trade led to the emergence of Julfar , in the present-day emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, as a major regional trading and maritime hub in the area. The maritime dominance of the Persian Gulf by Emirati traders led to conflicts with European powers, including the Portuguese Empire and the British Empire . Following decades of maritime conflict, the coastal emirates became known as the Trucial States with the signing of the General Maritime Treaty with the British in 1820 (ratified in 1853 and again in 1892), which established the Trucial States as a British Protectorate . This arrangement ended with independence and the establishment of the United Arab Emirates on 2 December 1971, immediately following the British withdrawal from its treaty obligations. Six emirates joined the UAE in 1971, the seventh, Ras Al Khaimah, joined the federation on 10 February 1972.⁴ Islam is the official religion and Arabic is the official language of the UAE.⁵ The UAE's oil reserves are the sixth-largest in the world while its natural gas reserves are the world's seventh-largest .⁶ Sheikh Zayed , ruler of Abu Dhabi and the first President of the UAE, oversaw the development of the Emirates and steered oil revenues into healthcare, education and infrastructure.⁷ The UAE's economy is the most diversified in the Gulf Cooperation Council , while its most populous city of Dubai is an important global city and international aviation and maritime trade hub.⁸ Consequently, the country is much less reliant on oil and gas than in previous years and is economically focusing on tourism and business.⁹ The UAE government does not levy income tax although there is a system of corporate tax in place and Value Added Tax at 5% was established in 2018. The UAE's rising international profile has led to it being recognised as a regional and a middle power . It is a member of the United Nations , the Arab League , the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation , OPEC , the Non-Aligned Movement and the Gulf Cooperation Council .¹⁰ Political Parties of The World . UAE Ministry of Justice . United Nations Development Programme . 10 December 2019 .¹¹ (10 October 2013) Call to naturalise some expats stirs anxiety in the UAE .¹² From Trucial States to United Arab Emirates .¹³ "Production of Crude Oil including Lease Condensate 2016" (CVS download) .

This is Wikipedia's own text, saved in our repository. Their copy of it is revision 965124820.

The opening as it stood in 2010 3 passages from the previous snapshot no longer appear

The United Arab Emirates ( UAE ) ( , Dawlat al-Imārāt al-‘Arabīyah al-Muttaḥidah , short-name: The Emirates , local short-name: Al Emarat الامارات) is a federation of seven emirates situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Southwest Asia on the Persian Gulf , bordering Oman and Saudi Arabia . The UAE consists of seven states, termed emirates , which are Abu Dhabi , Dubai , Sharjah , Ajman , Umm al-Quwain , Ras al-Khaimah and Fujairah . The capital and second largest city of the United Arab Emirates is Abu Dhabi . It is also the country's center of political , industrial , and cultural activities. Before 1971, the UAE was known as the Trucial States or Trucial Oman, in reference to a 19th century truce between the United Kingdom and several Arab Sheikhs . The name Pirate Coast was also used in reference to the area's emirates from the 18th to the early 20th century . The political system of the United Arab Emirates, based on the 1971 Constitution , is composed of several intricately connected governing bodies. Islam is the official religion, and Arabic is the official language . The United Arab Emirates has the world's seventh largest oil reserves and possesses one of the most developed economies in the Middle East . It is currently the thirty-sixth largest economy at market exchange rates , and has a high per capita gross domestic product , with a nominal per capita GDP of $46,584 as per the IMF . The country is fourteenth largest in purchasing power per capita and has a relatively high Human Development Index for the Asian continent, ranking 35th globally . The United Arab Emirates is classified as a high income developing economy by the IMF . The United Arab Emirates is a constitutional democracy based on a federal division of powers. The form of government used in UAE is a constitutional monarchy with a presidential system of government. It is a founding member of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf , and a member state of the Arab League . It is also a member of the United Nations , Organisation of the Islamic Conference , the OPEC , and the World Trade Organization . UAE population hits 6m, Emiratis make up 16.5% Expat numbers rise rapidly as UAE population touches 6m Department of Economic and Social Affairs Population Division (2009).

Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 371186796.

The opening as it stood in 2015 16 passages from the previous snapshot no longer appear

Arabic text The United Arab Emirates / juː ˌ n aɪ t [invalid input: 'ɨ'] d ˌ ær ə b ˈ ɛ m ɪr [invalid input: 'ɨ'] t s / ( Dawlat al-Imārāt al-‘Arabīyah al-Muttaḥidah ), sometimes simply called the Emirates or the UAE , is a country located in the southeast end of the Arabian Peninsula on the Persian Gulf , bordering Oman to the east and Saudi Arabia to the south, as well as sharing sea borders with Qatar and Iran . In 2013, the UAE's total population was 9.2 million, of which 1.4 million are Emirati citizens and 7.8 million are expatriates . Established in December 1971, the country is a federation of seven emirates . The constituent emirates are Abu Dhabi (which serves as the capital), Ajman , Dubai , Fujairah , Ras al-Khaimah , Sharjah , and Umm al-Quwain . Each emirate is governed by an absolute monarch who jointly form the Federal Supreme Council . One of the monarchs is selected as the President of the United Arab Emirates . Islam is the official religion of the UAE, and Arabic is the official language, although English is widely used. The UAE's oil reserves are the seventh-largest in the world , while its natural gas reserves are the world's seventeenth-largest . The late Sheikh Zayed , ruler of Abu Dhabi and the first President of the UAE, oversaw the development of the Emirates and steered oil revenues into healthcare, education and infrastructure. The UAE's economy is the most diversified in the Gulf Cooperation Council , with its most populous city of Dubai emerging into a center for international trade and transport . Nevertheless, the country remains extremely reliant on petroleum and natural gas. The UAE has been criticized for its human rights record , including the role of Sharia law in its legal system. The UAE's rising international profile has led some analysts to identify it as a regional and middle power . "Sharia law and Westerners in Dubai: should non-Muslims in UAE be made to face Islamic justice?" . There are <ref group=note> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a template (see the help page ).

Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 669473892.

The opening as it stood on October 6, 2023 19 passages from the previous snapshot no longer appear

Country in West Asia "UAE" redirects here. The United Arab Emirates ( UAE ; al-ʾImārāt al-ʿArabiyya l-Muttaḥida ), or simply the Emirates ( al-ʾImārāt ), is a country in West Asia , in the Middle East . It is located at the eastern end of the Arabian Peninsula and shares borders with Oman and Saudi Arabia , while also having maritime borders in the Persian Gulf with Qatar and Iran . Abu Dhabi is the nation's capital, while Dubai , the most populous city, is an international hub. The United Arab Emirates is an elective monarchy formed from a federation of seven emirates , consisting of Abu Dhabi (the capital), Ajman , Dubai , Fujairah , Ras Al Khaimah , Sharjah and Umm Al Quwain . Each emirate is governed by a ruler and together the rulers form the Federal Supreme Council . The members of the Federal Supreme Council elect a president (as of 14 May 2023, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan ) and vice president ( Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan ) from among their members. In practice, the ruler of Abu Dhabi serves as president while the ruler of Dubai is vice president and also prime minister. In 2013, the country had a population of 9.2 million, of which 1.4 million were Emirati citizens and 7.8 million were expatriates . As of 2023 , the United Arab Emirates has an estimated population of roughly 10.2 million. Islam is the official religion and Arabic is the official language. The United Arab Emirates' oil and natural gas reserves are the world's sixth and seventh-largest , respectively. Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan , ruler of Abu Dhabi and the country's first president, oversaw the development of the Emirates by investing oil revenues into healthcare, education, and infrastructure. The United Arab Emirates has the most diversified economy among the members of the Gulf Cooperation Council . In the 21st century, the country has become less reliant on oil and gas and is economically focusing on tourism and business. The UAE is considered a middle power . It is a member of the United Nations , Arab League , Organisation of Islamic Cooperation , OPEC , Non-Aligned Movement , World Trade Organization and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The UAE is also a dialogue partner of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation . It is among the first Arab countries expected to join BRICS on 1 January 2024 (along with Egypt and Saudi Arabia). Human rights organisations consider the UAE substandard on human rights, citing reports of government critics being imprisoned and tortured, families harassed by the state security apparatus, and cases of forced disappearances . Individual rights such as the freedoms of assembly , association , the press , expression , and religion are also severely repressed. Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism . Political Parties of The World . UAE Ministry of Justice . "United Arab Emirates Population (2020)" . u.ae . United Nations Development Programme . 15 December 2021 . (10 October 2013) Call to naturalise some expats stirs anxiety in the UAE . "Production of Crude Oil including Lease Condensate 2016" (CVS download) . There are <ref group=note> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a template (see the help page ).

Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 1178546470.

The opening as it stood in 2025 13 passages from the previous snapshot no longer appear

Country in West Asia "UAE" redirects here. The United Arab Emirates ( UAE ), or simply the Emirates , is a country in West Asia , in the Middle East , at the eastern end of the Arabian Peninsula . It is a federal semi-constitutional monarchy made up of seven emirates , with Abu Dhabi serving as its capital. It shares land borders with Oman to the east and northeast, and with Saudi Arabia to the southwest; as well as maritime borders in the Persian Gulf with Qatar and Iran , and with Oman in the Gulf of Oman . As of 2024 , the UAE has an estimated population of over 10 million, of which 11% are Emiratis ; Dubai is its most populous city and is an international hub. Islam is the official religion and Arabic is the official language, while English is the most spoken language and the language of business. The United Arab Emirates oil and natural gas reserves are the world's seventh and seventh-largest , respectively. Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan , ruler of Abu Dhabi and the country's first president, oversaw the development of the Emirates by investing oil revenues into healthcare, education, and infrastructure. The country has the most diversified economy among the members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). In the 21st century, the UAE has become less reliant on oil and gas and is economically focusing on tourism and business. The UAE is considered a middle power . It is also a member of the United Nations , Arab League , Organisation of Islamic Cooperation , OPEC , Non-Aligned Movement , World Trade Organization , and BRICS . The UAE is also a dialogue partner of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation . Human rights organisations consider the UAE substandard on human rights, ranking only 6.06 in the human freedom index , citing reports of government critics being imprisoned and tortured, families harassed by the state security apparatus, and cases of forced disappearances . Individual rights such as the freedoms of assembly , association , expression , and the freedom of the press are severely repressed. Political Parties of The World . UAE Ministry of Justice . Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre . "Production of Crude Oil including Lease Condensate 2016" (CVS download) . There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or templates on this page, but the references will not show without a template or template (see the help page ).

Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 1297949611. This is our newest snapshot; the live article may have moved again since.

Today

“occupation” appeared 1 times in this article's opening at its peak. Today the opening has none; the body has 5. Read the current article and compare.

Counts in the opening at each snapshot. Green: the word gained ground. Red: it was cut. Grey: no change.
	2005	2010	2015	2020	Oct '23	2025

Sections that no longer exist

Present on 6 October 2023, absent today. A heading can vanish because the section was deleted or because it was renamed or merged, and we have not separated those here, so treat this as a list of what to check rather than a verdict.

Oil and gas 1,380 characters

1. Removed: “The sovereign constitutional monarchy is a federation of seven emirates consisting of…” In the article until October 6, 2023 (rev), gone by 2025 (rev).

2. Removed: “Their boundaries are complex, with numerous enclaves within the various emirates.” In the article until 2020 (rev), gone by October 6, 2023 (rev).

3. Removed: “Each emirate is governed by a ruler; together, they jointly form the…” In the article until October 6, 2023 (rev), gone by 2025 (rev).

4. Removed 12 sentences: “One of the rulers serves as the President of the United Arab…” In the article until 2020 (rev), gone by October 6, 2023 (rev).

5. Rewrote: “Islam is the official religion and Arabic is the official language of…” Changed after our 2025 snapshot. Now reads: “Islam is the official religion and Arabic is the official language, while English is the most spoken language and the language of…”

6. Removed: “The UAE's oil reserves are the sixth-largest in the world while its…” In the article until 2020 (rev), gone by October 6, 2023 (rev).

7. Rewrote: “Sheikh Zayed , ruler of Abu Dhabi and the first President of…” In the article until 2020 (rev), changed by October 6, 2023 (rev). Now reads: “Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan , ruler of Abu Dhabi and the country's first president, oversaw the development of the Emirates by…”

8. Removed: “The UAE's economy is the most diversified in the Gulf Cooperation Council…” In the article until 2020 (rev), gone by October 6, 2023 (rev).

9. Rewrote: “Consequently, the country is much less reliant on oil and gas than…” In the article until 2020 (rev), changed by October 6, 2023 (rev). Now reads: “In the 21st century, the UAE has become less reliant on oil and gas and is economically focusing on tourism and business.”

10. Removed 3 sentences: “The UAE government does not levy income tax although there is a…” In the article until 2020 (rev), gone by October 6, 2023 (rev).

11. Removed: “United Nations Development Programme . 10 December 2019 .” In the article until 2020 (rev), gone by October 6, 2023 (rev).

12. Removed: “(10 October 2013) Call to naturalise some expats stirs anxiety in the…” In the article until October 6, 2023 (rev), gone by 2025 (rev).

13. Removed: “From Trucial States to United Arab Emirates .” In the article until 2020 (rev), gone by October 6, 2023 (rev).

Struck red text is no longer in the article; dotted amber text was rewritten. Every revision id links to Wikipedia's copy; the text shown is our own saved copy. Data: /data. Wikipedia text is CC BY-SA; quoted for the record; not affiliated with Wikipedia.

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