IOR/R/15/2/866

The file contains correspondence relating to the oil concession in the Sharjah territories. The correspondence is between: the Political Agent at Bahrain; representatives of Petroleum Concessions Limited and Petroleum Development (Trucial Coast) Limited, in London, Bahrain, and the Trucial Coast [United Arab Emirates]; the Residency Agent at Sharjah; the Political Residency at Bushire (later Bahrain) [Persian Gulf Political Residency]; the India Office; Sultan bin Saqr [Sulṭān bin Saqr Āl Qāsimī], the Ruler of Sharjah; and the Government of India.

The majority of the file covers an amendment to the 1937 concession agreement between the oil company, Petroleum Concessions Ltd, and Shaikh Sultan that was made in February 1946. This amendment was made in order to extend the permitted drilling period following the Second World War, during which no drilling was carried out. Permission to open negotiations over the matter was sought from the British Government by the company. There is a copy of the agreed amendment on folio 72.

Other matters covered by the file include:

• the desire of Shaikh Sultan to open a bank branch in Sharjah in order to receive royalty payments;
• confirmation of the initial 1937 concession agreement;
• the presentation by Petroleum Concessions Limited of a gift of motor vehicles to Shaikh Sultan;
• payment of the annual concession payment by the company to Shaikh Sultan;
• the arrival of a geological party in the Trucial Coast in early 1946;
• the correct channels of communication with the British Government to be used by the company.

Folios 19-28 is Memo B 467 of the India Office and includes a copy of the commercial agreement between the company and Shaikh Sultan, a copy of the 'political agreement' between the company and the British Government, and copies of correspondence relating to both.

Folios 76-80 are internal office notes.