The Federation of South Arabia was an organization of states under British protection in what would become South Yemen. It was formed on 18 January 1963 by merging the 15 protected states of the Federation of Arab Emirates of the South with the crown colony of Aden. In June 1964, the Upper Aulaqi Sultanate was added for a total of 17 states. A team was sent to the 1966 Commonwealth Games in Kingston, Jamaica. The Federation was abolished when it gained independence along with the Protectorate of South Arabia as the People's Republic of South Yemen on 30 November 1967.

For the history of the Federation, see History of Yemen.

Postage stamps

The Federation issued its own postage stamps from 1963 to 1966. Most of its issues were part of the omnibus issues common to all the Commonwealth territories, but it did issue its own definitive stamps on 1 April 1965. The set of 14 included 10 values, from 5 to 75 fils, each depicting the arms of the Federation in a single color, while the top four values (100 fils, 250 fils, 500 fils, and 1 dinar), featured the flag of the Federation.

States of the Federation

• Aden
• Alawi
• Aqrabi
• Audhali
• Beihan
• Dathina
• Dhala
• Fadhli
• Haushabi
• Lahej
• Lower Aulaqi
• Lower Yafa
• Maflahi
• Shaib
• Upper Aulaqi Sheikhdom
• Upper Aulaqi Sultanate
• Wahidi (Wahidi Balhaf)

References and Further Reading

• Paul Dresch. A History of Modern Yemen. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2000.
• R.J. Gavin. Aden Under British Rule: 1839-1967. London: C. Hurst & Company, 1975.
• Tom Little. South Arabia: Arena of Conflict. London: Pall Mall Press, 1968.

History of Yemen | Former countries in Asia | Commonwealth Games

Fédération d'Arabie du Sud