Al Bu Muhair

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article needs additional citations for verification.
Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (July 2007)

Al Bu Muhair is a tribe mainly residing in the United Arab Emirates. Primarily, this tribe is concentrated in the Emirates of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras al-Khaimah, Ajman and Umm Al Quwain.^[1]

Al Bu Muhair form, with other 14 tribes, a part of a tribal coalition referred to as Bani Yas. This tribe used to be the second strongest tribal coalition in the area currently referred to as the United Arab Emirates (later the Qawasim tribal coalition) and, because of the oil wealth and friendly relations with the western powers, has become the political and economic power in the area since the second half of the twentieth century.

There are several opinions as to Al Bu Muhair's origin. However, the most favorable opinion is that the tribe has a close relation with the old Semitic tribe living in parts of Oman and Yemen and known as the Mehri. Most of Al Bu Muhair are Hadar people, that is living in cities and mainly employed in pearl diving and other sea-related professions. Some of the tribe's branches, however, used to live as Bedouins.

Al Bu Muhair members are usually referred to as Muhairi or Al Muhairi. However, Al Bu Muhair contains a number of other branches that have become famous. Some examples include: