Page 242 - UAE Truncal States

Social Aspects of Traditional Economy

and British-protected Indian communities. This consciousness
turned easily into resentment of one group against another’s
privileges when the economy started to decline. Signs of such
resentment became therefore more obvious during the later 1920s
and may be detected, although in a not entirely unbiased version, in
the reports which the Residency Agent sent to the Political Resident.
An attempt was made in Dubai in the 1930s to introduce a new
socio-economic balance between the various old and new interest
groups in that town.41 This came to be known as the Dubai reform
movement, which is described in the next chapter.

The divers’ court
During the fast expansion of the pearling industry up to the 1920s the
demand for cash to equip and provision boats also grew, and
entrepreneurs, both Arab and foreign, not only earned a high and
relatively risk-free return but also were in a strong position to lay
down the terms for giving credit. The very complicated system of
financing the pearling industry also called for stringent regulations
to safeguard the rights of all the people involved, including the
financiers without whom the industry could not continue to grow.
Such rules differed from place to place and changed considerably
with time, circumstances, and the nationality and experience of the
participants in the industry. Deviations from the current code in any
one shaikhdom were not tolerated, regardless of the status of the
offender within the community. In each pearling port a tribunal
constituted of members of the pearling community was set up to deal
with such complaints. The financiers, captains and divers all stood
on an equal footing before this tribunal, called salifah al ghaus.
It usually consisted of several members of the diving community,
particularly nawakhidah with a reputation for fairness and good
judgement. The Ruler appointed the members of the diving tribunals,
but neither he nor the qadi could interfere in their judgement. In
matters which required an oath, however, the disputants had to go
before the qadi. In Abu Dhabi, throughout the present century there
has invariably been one person appointed by successive Rulers: only
three in eighty years.42
During the early years of the decline in the pearling industry, when
the accumulated debts which could not be recovered were leading to
the ruin of many families, an increasing number of cases were
referred to the qudah, particularly if all parties involved were

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