The Oil-Rich

Gulf States
Oman, United
Arab Emirates
(U.A.E.), Qatar,
 Sultanate of Oman
Land of Frankincense and
Myrrh
Geography:
Formerly called Oman and Muscat. Is located
on the southeast corner of the Arabian
Peninsula. Total land area is 300,000 square
kilometers. A short stretch of Oman lies on
the Persian Gulf overlooking the strait of
Hormuz, thru this important strait pass 47%
of the free world’s oil supply. Known as the
12th largest oil exporter and the 2nd largest
country in the Arabian Peninsula.
Capital: Muscat
Population: 2.8 million
Language: Arabic
Religion: Almost all are Muslim
Arabs belonging to the strict
Ibadhi sect. A minority of Sunni
and Shiite Muslims.
Omanis are: gentle, soft-
spoken people.
Gross Annual Income: $7.7
billion
Early History:
 In 1508, the Portuguese captured Muscat
and used it as naval and trade base.
 They were followed by the Turks in 1648
and Iranians in the 18th century.
 In 1741, the Iranian were expelled by
Ahmed Ibn Said, founder of the Said
Dynasty which still rules Oman today.
 In the early 19th century, Oman became a
powerful Arab state.
 In 1891, the British placed Oman under its
protection which ended on March 31, 1977
when the British Military base was closed.
 The Rulers of Said
Dynasty:
 Taimur bin Said (1923-1970)- An eccentric and
tyrant sultan. He prohibited modern appliances
and transportation. He kept people from going
abroad, traveling to other towns and even to
build or repair houses.
 Qaboos bin Said (July 23, 1970 to the present)-
Taimur’s British-educated son deposed end
succeeded him on July 23, 1970. he modernized
the economy and improved the welfare of his
people. In 1976, he crushed a leftist rebellion
near the border with South Yemen.
 Oman is also known for
its:
 Oil
 Succulent Dates
 Frankincense and Myrrh (the gifts of
the magi to Jesus)
 Abundant Seafoods (like sardines, tuna,
oysters, crabs and giant prawns)
 Fruits (mainly coconuts, papayas,
mangoes and spices)
 United Arab Emirates
(U.A.E.)
Federation of Seven Arab
Sheikdoms
Geography:
Located at the eastern part of the Arabian
Peninsula. UAE rests along the Persian Gulf,
after Oman and before Qatar. The seven
sheikdoms that comprises UAE are Abu
Dhabi (largest city), Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman,
Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khayman, and
Fujairah. The total land area is 82,800
square kilometers, smaller than Mindanao.
Capital: Abu Dhabi
Population: 50% of the population is
Indo-Pakistani, 42% native Arabs and
the other 8% are Jordanian, Palestinian
Arabs, Egyptians, Europeans, and
Filipinos.
Language: Arabic
Religion: Muslim rulers are Sunnis, and
the people are strongly influenced by
the strict Wahabi sect of neighboring
countries.
UAE Arabs used to be: pirates, pearl
divers or fishermen, nomads or oasis
farmers.
UAE is known for two famous sport:
camel races and falconry
Abu Dhabi: is famous as having the
highest cost of living in the world- the
cheapest apartment in Abu Dhabi
rents for $1,000/month.
Dubai: is considered the largest
commercial center and the nerve
center for smuggling.
UAE is Formerly called: The Trucial
States
Umm Al Quwain, Ajman and Fujairah:
three smallest members and have no
oil reserves.
 Early History:
 Established during the 7th century by the
seafaring people who were converted to
Islam during that time.
 In 1973, the Arabs ousted the Iranians and
founded the present Sheikdoms.
 In 1806, the British came and started to
impose order against the Arab pirates.
 In 1853, piracy was finally wiped out when
the Sheiks signed the perpetual Maritime
Truce Agreement with Britain. Thus, the
Pirate Coast became respectable Trucial
States.
*In 1967, after the British left, the gulf
sheiks decided to form a new
federation to protect themselves.
*On December 2, 1971, the United
Arab Emirates (UAE) was founded by
the sheiks, with Abu Dhabi’s Sheik
Zaid Bin Al-Nahayan as the first
president.
*After his death, his son Sheik Khalifa
bin Zaid took over as the new UAE
president on November 2, 2004.
After UAE was formed in 1971, it was
faced with three problems:
 Mass illiteracy and poverty
 A backward economy
 Inadequate defense without Big Power protector

Solutions done:
 Illiteracy has now been reduced to 48% and is still
declining due to rapid modernization.
 UAE is pioneering in the development of desert
farms using drip irrigation (hydroponics) with
desalinated sea water and plastic greenhouses.
 Qatar
World’s Largest Gas
Reserves
Geography:
The independent emirate of Qatar is a
small peninsula jutting into the Persian
Gulf from the east side of the Arabian
Peninsula. Lies between UAE and Saudi
Arabia. Total land area is only 11,000
square kilometers.
Capital: Doha
Population: 610,000 with native
Qataris in minority.
Language: Arabic
Form of Government: Absolute
monarchy
Religion: The natives are Sunni
Muslims of the strict Wahabi sect
and. have close ties with their
Saudi Arabian neighbors.
Gross Annual Income: $7.6 billion
Qatar: has the world’s largest
natural gas reserves.
 Early History:
 During the 7th century Qatar accepted Islam. For a
long time it was under the Ottoman Turks.
 In 1916, it became a British protectorate.
 In 1967, Qatar planned to join the other Gulf
sheikdoms.
 On September 1, 1971 it declared its own
independence, with Ahmed bin al Thani as emir.
 On February 22,1972, the first emir was deposed
by his cousin, Sheik Khalifa bin Hamad al-Thani, the
current ruler.
Qatar faces three
foreign problems
namely:

1. a border dispute with

Bahrain
2. the Iran-Iraq war
3. the decreasing price of oil
 Bahrain
Gulf Archipelago
Geography:
A small archipelago of 33 islets halfway down
the Persian Gulf between Qatar and the east
coast of Saudi Arabia. Only four islets really
matter, the largest being Bahrain Island. In
Arabic Bahrain means “two seas”. Total land
area is 669 Square kilometers.
Capital: Manama
Population: 724,000 about 70% are
native Bahrainis.
Language: Arab is the official
language but most people speak
English.
Religion: native Muslims are evenly
divided between Sunnis and the
Shiites.
Gross Annual Income: $3.7 billion
with a high grow rate of 10.7%
Average Annual Income: $5,560
Illiteracy: is now down to 60%.
Form of Government: absolute
 Early History:
 Bahrain traded with Mesopotamia
and India as early as 2783 BC.
 In 1622-1782, became the battle
ground for Arabs and Iranians, and
were followed by the Portuguese.
 In 1782, Khalifa, an Arab regained
control and founded the Khalifa
Dynasty which still rules today.
 In 19th century, Bahrain became a
British protectorate.
*In 1967, British withdrew and Bahrain
planned to join the federation of the
Gulf Sheikdoms.
*Bahrain declared its independence on
August 14, 1971, with Emir Isa bin-
Sulman al-Khalifa as the first and
present ruler.
*Since 1972, the emir has ruled as an
absolute monarch, making laws and
treaties for the country.
Bahrain’s foreign problems:

1. threatened by the Iran-Iraq War

2. decreasing price of oil

Three aspects of Bahrain’s foreign

relations:

1. a dispute with Qatar over Al Hawar island

2. its telecommunications leadership
3. the U.S. Navy facility in Bahrain