Page 25 - Arabiab Studies (IV)

Development or Decline of Pastoralists 15
ccs of the migrant labourers in the wealthier oil exporting
countries. Oman ranks about ninth in the league of Middle East oil
producing countries and, having a larger population than the Gulf
States, therefore has a much lower state income on a per capita
basis.22 Over a period of time, the Iqtabls are likely to become
increasingly disappointed at the slow speed of development in this
part of interior Oman, which cannot possibly match that which
they have seen in Abu Dhabi. As this dissatisfaction develops, the
probability of permanent emigration of members of the Jufrah
community increases. This is a facet of population movement
which has not yet featured, but which tends to have especially
debilitating effects upon the source community.23
It is of considerable significance that the Wadi Jufrah, as a
supplier of labour, is becoming an area marginal to areas of
economic growth in Saudi Arabia, along the Gulf Coast, and most
recently, Muscat and the capital area of the Sultanate of Oman.
This is not only important in respect of the BanI Qitab, but also
with regard to the other communities in the interior of the
Sultanate which act as sources of labour for more developed areas
in south east Arabia. It is not suggested that any reasonable
economic policy could make this area of interior Oman a focus for
economic growth. It is, however, asserted that efforts could be
made to mitigate some of the adverse effects which such
marginality brings about. The problems of a community’s being a
supplier of labour, especially to a market in another nation, are
well known.24 In particular, the BanI Qitab are now subject to
vagaries in the demand for labour in the countries to which they
travel to work. As yet, the rate of economic expansion has been so
rapid that the migrant labourers have had no problems in
obtaining work. This might not always be the case, however.
Although it might be argued that, in the event of a recession and
reduction in the demand for labour, the Iqtabls (and Omanis as a
whole) might not be the first to suffer unemployment, they would
nevertheless be vulnerable.25
Furthermore, it is not difficult to conceive of circumstances
under which the Omanis would be discriminated against in the
Gulf job market, or indeed under which they were excluded totally
from at least parts of the market by virtue of political dispute or
border closures for health reasons/6 The lack of skilled, or even
semi-skilled occupations among the IqtabI migrant labourers
makes them an especially dispensable section of the labour forces
of the countries in which they work. Under these conditions, the
major and now virtually only source of income accruing to the
BanI Qitab and other groups in a similar situation, their remittan-