Today, Kalba is an exclave of the Emirate of Sharjah on the east coast. Sheikh Majid ibn Sultan al-Qasimi from the House of Sharjah-Qasimi seized power in Kalba, Daba and Khor Fakkan in 1871, effectively separating these areas from Sharjah. Daba, however, was ruled by a relative, Sheikh Ahmad ibn Sultan al-Qasimi. Kalba did not initially achieve the status of a member of the Trucial States (Trucial Oman) because the British treaty side did not recognise the secession. Although the Hakims of Kalba belonged to the Al-Qawasim (rulers of Ras al-Chaima and Sharjah), they are said to have used the single-coloured red flag of the Ghafiri as non-signatories of the Treaty of General Maritime Peace. Ultimately, the area became part of the Trucial States in 1903, but only as part of Sharjah, and from 1921 the treaty flag of Sharjah was also used. In 1936, Kalba was finally recognised by the British as an emirate of the Trucial States (Trucial Oman). The treaty flag of Sharjah was retained. When Emir Sheikh Hamad ibn Said al-Qasimi died in 1951, the inheritance fell to Sheikh Saqr ibn Sultan al-Qasimi of Sharjah, who re-incorporated the land into Sharjah one year later. Before the introduction of the treaty flag of British origin in the colours white and red, single-coloured red flags were used in the region. In the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf region, red is a traditional flag colour that is closely associated with Islam, as it is the colour of the sherifs of Mecca and is a symbol of the Islamic Kharijites living in eastern Arabia. All Islamic dynasties that refer to the origin of the Alawites (also called Alids, descendants of Ali → e.g. today's Morocco, former North Yemen) have or had red flags.
ca. 1750 · conquest by Bedouins, Beginning of piracy, the area is called "Pirate Coast", establishing the Emirate of Ras al-Khaimah by the Qawasim Clan of the Huwayla Tribe
1806–1819 · actions of the British navy against the pirates
1820 · Peace Treaty for the end of piracy
1834 · renewal of the peace treaty
1853 · renewal of the peace treaty, "Perpetual Maritime Truce", the area is now called "Trucial Oman" or "Trucial States"
1869 · death of Sultan ibn Saqr of Ras al-Chaima, division of inheritance, foundation of the Emirate of Sharjah (incl. Khor Fakkan)
1871 · Sheikh Majid ibn Sultan al-Qasimi from the House of Sharjah Qasimi seizes power in Kalba, Daba and Khor Fakkan
1892 · United Kingdom establishes its protectorate over the Emirates
1903 · United Kingdom recognises the Sheikdom of Kalba, but only as part of Sharjah
1936 · the Emirate of Kalba is officially recognised by United Kingdom and becomes part of the Trucial States (Trucial Oman)
1951 · death of the last Emir Sheikh Hamad ibn Said al-Qasimi, the inheritance goes to Sharjah
