[1][2][3] The British viewed Saqr and his support for Arab Nationalism as a threat to their interests in the Trucial States leading to British officials, led by Sir Terence Clark, to coordinate a coup in 1965 to crown Saqr's cousin Khalid bin Muhammad Al Qasimi.

[6] At the time of the coup, Khalid had become increasingly unpopular, especially among Sharjah's Arab nationalists, due to his handling, or lack thereof, of Iran's Seizure of Abu Musa and the Greater and Lesser Tunbs.

Shortly after on December 2, 1971, Saqr smuggled himself into Sharjah with 7 Bedouin loyalists and a group of 18 Egyptian mercenaries, seeking to restore his throne.

[8][6] Saqr would be supported by local Arab nationalists such as Sultan al-Oweis, however, due to the British withdrawal some months earlier, failed to rally the population to his anti-Colonial cause.

[6]However, within an hour of taking the palace, Saqr would be besieged by the Trucial Oman Scouts who were based out of the former RAF Sharjah who were quickly joined by police from Dubai.