Oil Men, Territorial Ambitions and Political Agents From Pearls to Oil in the Trucial States of the Gulf
Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Common Acronyms
- Acknowledgements
- Preface
- Introduction
- Chapter 1 Petroleum Development (Trucial Coast) Before and During the War Years
- Chapter 2 Don't Shoot the Geologist
- Chapter 3 Adventures in the Sultanate of Oman
- Chapter 4 Turbulent Times
- Chapter 5 Drilling at Last
- Chapter 6 The Continental Shelf
- Chapter 7 Activity on the Borderline
- Chapter 8 Exit Superior. Enter AIOC (BP) – D’Arcy
- Chapter 9 The Buraimi Oases
- Chapter 10 The Liwa Oases
- Chapter 11 The Return to Geophysical and Drilling
- Chapter 12 The Lion is Provoked
- Epilogue
- Time line
- The Maps
- Photographs
- Bibliography
- About the Author
- Appendices – Chapter 1
- Appendices – Chapter 2
- Appendices – Chapter 3
- Appendices – Chapter 4
- Appendices – Chapter 5
- Appendices – Chapter 6
- Appendices – Chapter 7
- Appendices – Chapter 8
- Appendices – Chapter 9
- Appendices – Chapter 10
- Appendices – Chapter 11
- Appendices – Chapter 12
Chapter 9 - The Buraimi Oases
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 25 September 2025
Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Common Acronyms
- Acknowledgements
- Preface
- Introduction
- Chapter 1 Petroleum Development (Trucial Coast) Before and During the War Years
- Chapter 2 Don't Shoot the Geologist
- Chapter 3 Adventures in the Sultanate of Oman
- Chapter 4 Turbulent Times
- Chapter 5 Drilling at Last
- Chapter 6 The Continental Shelf
- Chapter 7 Activity on the Borderline
- Chapter 8 Exit Superior. Enter AIOC (BP) – D’Arcy
- Chapter 9 The Buraimi Oases
- Chapter 10 The Liwa Oases
- Chapter 11 The Return to Geophysical and Drilling
- Chapter 12 The Lion is Provoked
- Epilogue
- Time line
- The Maps
- Photographs
- Bibliography
- About the Author
- Appendices – Chapter 1
- Appendices – Chapter 2
- Appendices – Chapter 3
- Appendices – Chapter 4
- Appendices – Chapter 5
- Appendices – Chapter 6
- Appendices – Chapter 7
- Appendices – Chapter 8
- Appendices – Chapter 9
- Appendices – Chapter 10
- Appendices – Chapter 11
- Appendices – Chapter 12
Summary
9.1 First a Word from Henderson
The reader should here please take good note of the following written by Henderson on 29 September 1952:
The Saudi “invasion” of Baraimi has taken prominence over all other events on the Trucial Coast. No Shaikhdom which claims authority over any bedu tribe, and hence the area in which they live, has been unaffected by this event. At the same time the Rulers look to Ibn Saud as the Great Arab King. The shaikhs as a whole therefore attempt to remain aloof from these events leaving any action to H.M.G.
We should remember Henderson's observation as it helps to explain the behaviour of some of the sheikhs which observers at the time found difficult to understand, or were even very critical of. We should also bear in mind that both the governments of Britain and Saudi Arabia were seeking a peaceful resolution to the dispute – and had many other issues outstanding elsewhere between the two.
The situation on the Trucial Coast was very different from the scene we view in the UAE today. To emphasise this distinction I continue to refer to the Trucial Coast or the sheikhdoms. Similarly I refer to Buraimi as the collective name for the group of oases.
The difference between now and then is starkly demonstrated in the note that Codrai wrote in June 1952:
Hundreds of people who went to Saudi Arabia in search of work have now returned to the Trucial Coast, having been refused permission to enter Saudi Arabia. A quarantine restriction is said to have been the reason for this. Until recently people possessing letters from Shaikh Saeed bin Maktum were refused entry, but others bearing letters from Obaid bin Juma (of the Bani Kaab) were allowed to enter the country. Consequently Obaid bin Juma made a good thing of his favoured relations with the Saudis, and sold his letters for sixty Rupees each.
9.2 Buraimi. After Bird
I wrote in Chapter 3 about Bird's experiences living at Buraimi in the Jahili fort. He first arrived there on 1 March 1948 and he was based there from time to time until he returned to London in June 1949. Jackson had also stayed at Jahili which in those days was very different from the structure that we see there today. The main tower was typical of such towers that one saw elsewhere in those days on the Trucial Coast.
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- Oil Men, Territorial Ambitions and Political AgentsFrom Pearls to Oil in the Trucial States of the Gulf, pp. 307 - 344Publisher: Gerlach BooksPrint publication year: 2019
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