Al Bu Shamis

The Al Bu Shamis are one of three sections of the Na'im, the others being Al Bu Kharaiban and Khawatir.^[1] Of the three sections, the Al Bu Shamis has become virtually independent and associated closely with the Al Bu Falasa of Dubai.^[2]

The Al Bu Shamis emigrated from Western Arabia to settle around the Dhahirah and Sunaynah areas.^[3] Later migrations led some of them to Al Ain and the Buraimi Oasis.^[4] Al Shamsi were also traditionally the heads of both Hamriyah and Al Heera, dependencies of Sharjah that frequently attempted to assert their independence through the 19th and into the 20th century.^[5]

While the Na'im were often involved in disputes and open warfare with other tribes, including the Bani Kaab, Bani Qitab and Al Bu Falasah, the Al Bu Shamis remained generally on good terms with other tribes, particularly the Duru and Bani Qitab.^[6]

The Na'im settled Buraimi and nearby Al Ain, where Na'im expansion came at the expense of the Dhawahir tribe, but also rubbed up against the Bani Yas and the allied Manasir. The Na'im as a whole, including the Al Bu Shams, were led by the Sheikh of the Al Bu Kharaiban.^[7] Although the Na'im were linked to the growing Wahhabi influence in the Buraimi area and adopted the doctrine, they allied with other forces to evict the Wahhabis from Buraimi in 1871 and subsequently occupied many of the forts around Buraimi.^[8]^: 60 However, following the death of Zayed the Great, the Na'im once again were loyal to Muscat but in the 1930s and 40s came under Saudi influence.^[9]

With the continuing decline of the Na'im tribal federation, the Al Bu Shamis maintained an almost completely separate identity and, in fact, the Al Bu Shamis leader of Al Heera – Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Muhammad Al Shamsi was often at loggerheads, if not war, with the Na'imi Al Bu Kharaiban Ruler of Ajman.^[10]

With Saudi interests focused on Buraimi in the late 1940s, together with the Bani Kaab, the Al Bu Shamis were ranged against British forces during the Buraimi Dispute ^[11] and actively fought the British forces.^[12] As a consequence, a number of members of the tribe elected to be deported to Bahrain and then on to live in Saudi Arabia.^[12]

Origins

Notable members

See also

References

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