United Arab Republic

The United Arab Republic (UAR) was the union between Egypt and Syria, established in 1958. It came from the idea of Pan-Arabism, intending to link all Arabic countries in one federation. In reality, Egypt's President Nasser as president of the UAR dominated Syria. Plus major differences in national identity, customs and currency prevented the UAR from ever becoming one nation.

While they shared a number of common designs including the Arab Postal Union omnibus issues, the Egyptian and Syrian issues inscribed UAR can be told apart by the currencies used. Egyptian issues were in milliemes ("M") and Syrian issues were in piasters ("P").

Egyptian issues
 File:UAR Egypt first.jpg|1958 10m first issue. File:UAR Egypt defin.jpg|1958 1m farmer's wife definitive. File:UAR Egypt Victory.jpg|1961 10m Suez Canal War Victory Day. File:UAr Egypt flags.jpg|Example of the 1964 10m flags of Arab nations. These are often mistaken for a stamp from the country whose flag is shown and named at bottom. 
 * In 1958, the first issue for Egypt was released, a commemorative and airmail inscribed UNITED ARAB REPUBLIC EGYPT
 * Several issues followed, including revised definitives, inscribed UAR / EGYPT.
 * In late 1958, the inscriptions became UAR. Once again, Egyptian issues are in milliemes ("M"). Plus, aside from omnibus stamps, many issues are about Egyptian people or subjects.
 * Also be aware of designs in different colors with "PALESTINE" in small letters. Those are occupation issues for the region.
 * In September 1961, the government of Syria was overthrown. Egypt continued to call itself the UAR.
 * In September 1971, stamp inscriptions were changed to AR EGYPT (Arab Republic Egypt).

Occupation of Palestine issues
The UAR continued the policy of issuing separate stamps for Palestine. These often have "PALESTINE" in very small letters but when not being overprinted UAR stamps, they are in different colors from the regular UAR stamps. 
 * The first issue was the 1958 UAR definitives overprinted PALESTINE.
 * Overprints continued until 1960, when stamps with a Palestine inscription, sometimes almost hidden, were first issued.



Official stamps

 * In 1959 two values were issued showing Arabic numerals and only inscribed in Arabic. These were watermarked with small multiple eagles and lettering reading "misr".
 * In 1962-63, those values in new colors and more values were issued, this time with the multiple UAR in separate roman and Arabic letters.
 * In 1966-68, an eagle design was issued with "OFFICIAL" at the bottom. The low values were unwatermarked, the values of 100m were watermarked with the multiple simplified eagle.
 * In 1969, a 10m value in magenta (new color) was issued.



Postage due

 * In 1960, Arabic numeral postage dues were issued with a small multiple eagle and "misr" lettering watermark.
 * in 1965, the watermark was changed to the multiple UAR in separate roman and arabic letters.
 * In 1965, bicolor dues with an interwoven arabesque design were released.



Syrian issues
 File:UAR Syria first.jpg|1958 12½p first issue. File:UAr Syria Damscus fair.jpg|1958 25p Damascus Fair airmail. File:UAR Syria arabesque.jpg|1959 2½p arabesque definitive. File:UAR Syria letter writing.jpg|1959 overprint on obsolete stamp. The missing stop/period at the end is normal for this value.
 * In 1958, the first Syrian issue was released, a commemorative and airmail inscribed THE UNITED ARAB REUBLIC SYRIA.
 * Four issues were then inscribed REPUBLIQUE ARABE UNIE
 * In September 1958, the inscription became UAR or "U.A.R.", with one Syrian stamp overprinted with "RAU". Remember for these that Syrian stamps are in piasters ("P").
 * In September 1961, the Syrian government was overthrown, breaking up the UAR. Inscriptions then became SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC



[[Category:U]]