Page 5 - UAE Truncal States

Table of Contents

Chapter Two: The Tribal Structure of Society 18
1 The basis of the tribal organisation of the
population in Eastern Arabia 10
Ageless characteristics and changing conditions 18
The major migrations 19
The secondary dispersal 23
The link between the tribal structure and the limited
economic opportunities: the "versatile tribesman" 24
2 The Bani Yas, their associates, and the
development of Abu Dhabi into a "territorial
state” 27

The tribes of Abu Dhabi 27
Bani Yas 27
ManasTr 34
Dhawahir 38
Nomadic tribes who frequent Abu Dhabi territory:
'Awamir, 'Afar, Manahll, Rashid, Al Murrah 39
Expansion of Bani Yas Territory 42
Longstanding possession of Dhafrah and the Llwa
oases 42
Increasing presence on the coast 43
Sharing the area with other tribes 45
The foothold in the Buraimi area develops into the
town of al 'Ain 46

Conclusions 56
3 The tribes on the fringe of the Trucial Coast 57
Their role vis-a-vis the coastal shaikhdoms 57
Na'im 59
Al Bu Shamis 63
Balush 64
Bani Qitab and Bani Ka'ab 65
A new aspect of the old question of allegiance 67
4 The multi-tribal Qasimi Empire 68
General appraisal 68
The tribes of the northern area 72
Sharqiyin 72
Al 'Ali 74
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