British postal agencies in Eastern Arabia

British postal agencies in Eastern Arabia issued early postage stamps used in each of Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Dubai, Kuwait, Muscat and Qatar.

Muscat and Dubai relied on Indian postal administration until 1 April 1948 when, following the Partition of India, British agencies were established there.

[1] The first stamps specific to Muscat were an Indian issue with overprints on 20 November 1944 to commemorate the bicentenary of the Al-Busaid Dynasty.

The issue in fifteen values from three paise to two rupees was the 1940–1943 Indian definitive set, featuring George VI, overprinted in Arabic script with "AL BUSAID 1363".

The first British stamps were nine current George VI definitives carrying surcharges ranging from one half anna to two rupees.

Gibbons recorded twelve different issues of surcharged British stamps in Muscat, with varying numbers of values.

These issues were mostly definitives but included some commemoratives such as the 1949 Universal Postal Union and 1957 World Scout Jubilee Jamboree sets.

The first British issue on 1 April 1948 were George VI definitives overprinted KUWAIT with a value in annas or rupees.

Dubai assumed control of the postal service in June 1963 when the British agency closed and began issues of its own stamps the same year.