In pictures: Guy Gravett's photographs of the Trucial States

Archival photograph of the Trucial States shot by photographer Guy Gravett. This images shows Sheikh Zayed and Sultan at entance to a palace in 1962

Sheikh Zayed, on the right, sits beneath the walls of Qasr Al Hosn in Abu Dhabi with an unknown man.

Sheikh Shakhbut, centre, inspects oil production equipment on Das Island, probably in 1962, the year of the first exports.

A trader sits amid bottles, crates and a scale in the Abu Dhabi souq in 1962. The Flower Basket matches visible on the right are still sold here.

Sheikh Zayed talks with oil industry executives on Das Island in 1962.

Camel riders from the Trucial Oman scouts on patrol near Al Ain in 1963.

The imam of the Das Island mosque in 1963.

Above, a desert crossroads point to Abu Dhabi and Buraimi; its obscured faces point to Tarif and Dubai. At right, camel riders from the Trucial Oman scouts on patrol near Al Ain in 1963.

A Douglas DC-3 operated by Gulf Aviation at Das Island airport in 1962. The flag carries the emblems of British Petroleum and Abu Dhabi Marine Areas.

Flares on Das Island light up the night sky in 1962. Natural gas from oil production was once disposed of this way but is now recovered and sold.