SOAS Research Online

Abstract

This study deals with the 'Utbi States in Eastern Arabia in the second half of the eighteenth century. The rise of the 'Utub, the ancestors of the present influential families and the rulers of Kuwait and Bahrain, has so far been neglected. Chapter One of the present work describes the position in Eastern Arabia and the Persian Gulf in the first half of the 18th century and how certain factors paved the way for the rise of the first 'Utabi settlement of Kuwait. Chapter two treats of the origin of the 'Utub and reflects an attempt to answer various questions relating to the growth of Kuwait and the rise of the A;-Sabah as the first 'Utbi rulers in that town, in 1752. In 1766, the al-khalifa, the cousins of Al-Sabah, accomoanied by other 'Utbi families, migrated to the south and established Zubara in Qatar. The rapid growth of the 'Utbi trade that followed its establishment and other aspects of the 'Utbi history are discussed in Chapter Three. The commercial success of Kuwait and Zubara provoked the jealousy of other Arab tribes in the area and especially those on the Persian littoral of the Gulf. As a result of military operations between the 'Utub and the latter Bahrain Islamis were conquered in 1782 and by now the 'Utub had become the strongest Arab maritime power on the Persian Gulf. This rise in the 'Utbi power until 1790 is treated in Chapter Four. By the 1780's the Wahhabis had conquered most parts of Central Arabia and started their wars against the Bani Khalid, rulers of al-hasa and the barrier of the coastal 'Utbi States. Wahhabism, Wahhabi-Khalidi struggle, and Wahhabi relations with the 'Utub are treated in Chapter Five. Chapter six deals with the commercial aspect of the 'Utbi history and it shows how they succeeded in almost monopolising the trade of Eastern Arabia. 'utbi relatious with the European and other forces in the area are treated in various chapters of the thesis.