Human artifacts dated between 100,000-125,000 years old have been discovered in the United Arab Emirates - the earliest evidence of human activity outside of Africa. Evidence of interaction with Mesopotamian societies is available from from 5500 BC and, by the 1st century AD, Umm al-Qaiwain was the site of an important port (Omana) which facilitated trade between the Roman world and the Indian sub-continent.

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