Page 300 - The Arabian Gulf States_Neat
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238 THE LEGAL STATUS OF THE ARABIAN GULF STATES
                   or because her state activities in it after this period were very slight,
                   it does not follow that Muscat and Abu Dhabi have acquired such a
                   title if they cannot show sufficient proof of their ‘effective possession’
                   over the Oasis throughout this period. In other words, the sovereignty
                   of Muscat and Abu Dhabi over Buraimi can be proved by showing
                   that these countries have established a ‘superior’ title to that of the
                   Saudis.
                     The British Government has claimed sovereignty over the Buraimi
                   Oasis, on behalf of both Muscat and Abu Dhabi, on the ground that
                   after 1869 it came under the joint jurisdiction of the rulers of the two
                   countries who have continuously displayed and exercised unchallenged
                   state activities in the Oasis. The Saudi Government has, of course,
                   made a similar claim of jurisdiction over Buraimi. However, except
                   for their temporary occupation of the village of Hamasa in 1952, the
                   Saudis do not appear to have been able to establish their ‘effective
                   possession’ over the Oasis since their eviction from it in 1869. Conse­
                   quently, if it is proved that during this period both Abu Dhabi and
                   Muscat have, in fact, established ‘a prescriptive title’ to the territory,
                   this title, as manifested by a continuous and peaceful display of
                   authority, would, undoubtedly, prevail upon the original Saudi title
                   to that territory. However, it seems questionable that the fait accompli
                   settlement which prevailed in Buraimi after 1955, as a result of what a
                   distinguished British writer calls ‘a continuous build-up’ of the British-
                   officered Levies of Trucial Oman,1 could, legally and judicially, be
                   relied upon as proof of the ‘effective control’ established by both the
                   Sultan of Muscat and the Ruler of Abu Dhabi in the Oasis.

                                   1 Mann, C., Abu Dhabi (1964), p. 98.
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