From Trucial States to United Arab Emirates: A Society in Transition

Contents
	List of Maps
	Abbreviations
	Note on Transliteration
	Acknowledgements
	Foreword
	Introduction
	One. Geographical Conditions
	1	The changing importance of immutable geographical factors
	2 Ecology: Some implications of the UAE's geographical setting
		Oil
	A country of the “Middle East"
	Geographical features of the country General
	3	The main geographical features of the individual Emirates
	Abu Dhabi
	Dubai
	Sharjah
	The northern States and the east coast
	Two. The Tribal Structure of Society
	1	The basis of the tribal organisation of the population in Eastern Arabia
	Ageless characteristics and changing conditions
	The major migrations
	The secondary dispersal
	The link between the tribal structure and the limited economic opportunities: the “versatile tribesman"
	2 The Bani Yas, their associates, and the development of Abu Dhabi into a “territorial state”
	The tribes of Abu Dhabi
	Expansion of Bani Yas territory
	Conclusions
	3	The tribes on the fringe of the Trudal Coast
	Their role vis-à-vis the coastal sheikhdoms
	Balûsh
	Bani Qitab and Bani Ka'ab
	A new aspect of the old question of allegiance
	4 The multitribal Qasimi Empire
	General Appraisal
	The tribes of the northern area
	Three. Administering a Tribal Society
	1	The “decentralisation” of the administration in the wäli system of tribal sheikhdoms
	General
	The Qäsimi Empire
	2	Other means of exercising authority
	3	Abu Dhabi: a tribal confederation's means of absorbing change
	The setting
	The Ruler’s representatives
	4	Manifestations of administrative sovereignty—with an emphasis on examples from Abu Dhabi69
	Taxation
	Customs duties
	Reservation of rights
	Subsidies and other manifestations of authority
	Jurisdiction
	5	Conclusion
	Four. The Islamic Basis of Society
	1	The Islamisation of the area
	Religion in the area before Islam
	Accepting Islam
	2	Influence of the Ibâdis* struggles against the Caliphate
	3	The religious communities in Trucial Oman at the turn of the twentieth century
	Muslim and other communities
	The unifying force of Islam in this society
	4	The Muslim system of life on this Goast during the first half of the 20th century
	In and around the mosques
	Religion and family life
	Education
	Zakäh
	5	Conclusion: The tribal system of the Trucial States and Islam
	Five. The Traditional Economies
	1	General
	2	Husbandry in the Trucial States
	3	Hunting, fishing, collecting
	Wildlife and hunting
	Fishing
	Collecting guano
	4	Agriculture
	Date cultivation
	Gardens irrigated by aflâj
	Desert gardens
	5	Pearling
	Economic importance
	Pearl banka
	Pearling by foreigners
	6	Trade
	Trade in pearls
	General trade
	7	Manufacturing
	General
	Boat building
	Pottery
	Metal-work
	Woodwork
	Weaving
	Camel-trimmings
	Fuel
	8	Conclusion
	Six. The Social Aspects of the Traditional Economy
	1	The changing occupational and social pattern of Abu Dhabi*s tribesmen
	The traditional economic basis: desert and sea
	Occupational specialisation in Abu Dhabi
	Entrepreneurs in the Abu Dhabi pearling industry
	The effect of the decline of the pearling industry on the desert tribesmen
	Alternative sources of income after the Second World War
	2	The pearling communities in the other Trucial States
	The economic structure: interdependence and debts
	Absconding debtors
	The statue of immigrants
	The divers* court
	Members of ruling families interfering in the pearling industry
	Effects of the declining demand for pearls
	Search for alternative markets for pearls
	3	Socio-economic status of the settled population in the oases
	Who owns the land?
	Social stratification in villages
	Trade in real estate
	Establishing new gardens
	Summary
	4	Side-effects of economic stress
	The limitations of resources and economic opportunities
	Resurgence of raiding
	Trading in slaves
	5	The role of women in the economy
	6	Conclusion: uniformity of life-style due to economic limitations
	Seven. Dubai—Example of a City State on the Trucial Coast
	1	Dubai before the 1950s
	Introduction
	Early history
	Developing into a focal point for trade and pearling
	Immigration of Arab merchants from the Persian coast
	Bringing a new feature to the town—the wind-tower house
	Sketch of the town before work on the creek began
	2	The Reform Movement
	The new Majlis
	3	Development of a modern infrastructure in Dubai
	First step: improving the creek
	Improving the town
	Land management
	The harbour project, leading to large-scale industrialisation
	4	The Development of Community Services
	Background
	Medical facilities
	Education
	Police force
	5	Analysis of the achievements
	Eight. The External Influences
	1	Before the 19th Century
	The Portuguese on the Arab coasts
	The Qawàsim
	The polarisation of Eastern Arabian tribes into Hinäwi and Ghäfiri factions
	Wahhabi influence on the area14
	2	Qawäsim, Oman and Great Britain at the beginning of the 19th Century
	Early English trading interests in the Gulf
	Qawäsim dashes with English shipping
	The Implications of the 1820 treaty
	3	Growing British military and political involvement
	Anti-slavery treaties
	The littoral sheikhdoms under British eyes
	British-inspired agreement concerning absconding debtors
	Intervention in internal matters
	4	Political benefits of the British influence
	5	British anticipation of economic benefits
	Move to exdude non-British economic interests
	Negotiations between Petroleum Concessions Ltd. and Trucial States Rulers
	The use of other facilities
	Territorial sovereignty during early oil exploration
	6	The Buraimi issue up to 1955
	7	British involvement in the 1950s and 1960s
	A change of attitude
	Growing financial commitments of the oil companies
	The political representation
	Making the countryside secure
	Foreign jurisdiction
	The Development Office
	Analysis of British Development Efforts
	Nine. The Formation of the Federation
	1	British withdrawal
	The Labour Government's economic measures
	The technicalities of withdrawal
	The Bahrain predicament
	Speculation that the Conservatives might reverse policy
	2	Local response to the new situation
	Early stages in co-operation
	The first federation meeting
	3	The three-year construction period
	Discovering the realities of federal life
	A period for clarifying bilateral relations
	The Federation in suspension
	A comprehensive agreement—never signed
	Preparing for the possibility of withdrawal from the federation
	Half-hearted revival of the federation of nine emirates
	Omani participation in the federation?
	The last resort
	Bahrain and Qatar opt out while Abu Dhabi prepares for the worst
	4	Agreement to establish the UAE
	The UAE agreed upon
	Making it workable
	The issue of the islands
	The UAE proclaimed
	Ra's al Khaimah - last but not least
	5	The Constitution of the UAE
	A constitution made for the nine Gulf emirates
	Centralistic and federalists elements
	The division of powers—legislative, executive and judicial
	6	Ten years of Federation
	The provisional constitution remains in force
	The main supporting elements of the federation
	Crises and unresolved problems of the Federation
	Conclusion
	Notes
	Bibliography
	Appendix
	Distribution of Bani Yas subtribes
	Glossary
	Index of Tribal Names
	Index