For the Tribe, see Balush (tribal group).
See also: Baloch diaspora, Baloch people in the United Arab Emirates, and Omani Baloch

Al-Balushi (Arabic: البلوشي; alternatively Baloushi, Balooshi, Bloushi or Blooshi)[2] is a tribal surname common in the Arab states of the Persian Gulf (including Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Al-Hasa and Basra). The surname is an Arabized form of the term Balochi or Baluchi (Balochi: بلوچي), typically denoting Baloch ancestry from Balochistan.[3][a]

Many people carrying this surname trace their ancestral origins to Balochistan — a region in southwestern Pakistan and southeastern Iran — located across the Persian Gulf.[4] Their ancestors primarily came from the Makran coast between the 16th and 20th centuries, influenced by factors such as serving as mercenaries during Omani rule in Makran, engaging in trade and fishing, participating in pearl diving seasons, or fleeing conflict, famine, and unrest in their homeland in search of work, food, and shelter.[5]

The majority of them speak Arabic, while some retain their native Balochi language, and others speak Persian or Urdu as a third language.[3] They are mainly Sunni Muslims of the Hanafi or Shafi'i schools of jurisprudence, except some Hanbalis in northern Oman, and some Shiites in Kuwait and Iraq.[1]

In addition to the Al-Balushi surname, there are other surnames in the Arab states of the Persian Gulf that trace their origins to the Baloch people but have since become distinct. These include: Al-Houti (الهوتي) Hoth, Al-Raeesi (الرئيسي) Rais, Al-Ameeri (الأميري) Mir, Al-Taher (آل طاهر) Taherzai, Al-Maazmi (المازمي) Mazim, and Al-Zadjali (الزدجالي) Jadgal.[6]

Immigrants from the Persian coast to the UAE

Al-Balushi (romanized: balūchi) is a general name for Baloch immigrants originally from the Persian coast, who migrated to the coastal regions of the Trucial States (modern-day United Arab Emirates) over the centuries.[7] Many Al-Balushi immigrants played a significant role in the region’s agricultural and construction sectors. In particular, they worked in the date gardens along the east coast, where they were involved in various tasks such as drawing water from wells, assisting in the cultivation of date palms, and helping to build houses. While some were paid in kind, most Al-Balushi workers received wages for their labor. Their contributions were essential to the local economy, and they often worked alongside other labor groups, including black servants and Bedouin nomads, particularly during the busy date harvest season.[8]

However, despite their important role in the workforce, the Al-Balushi faced social restrictions; they were generally not allowed to marry Arab tribal women, reflecting the ethnic and social hierarchies that characterized the region. The Al-Balushi, like other groups in the area, often worked in specialized roles but were typically excluded from fully integrating into the Arab tribal structure. Over time, their presence in the UAE became a key part of the region's evolving social and economic landscape, especially as the country transitioned from the Trucial States to the United Arab Emirates.[9]

Al-Balushis in Oman

Sur Al Balush, In Shinas State, Sultanate Of Oman.

Oman is home to one of the largest Al-Balushi populations outside of Pakistan and Iran. It is estimated that Al-Balushis make up approximately 35% of its population.[10]

The historical presence of Al-Balushis in Oman dates back centuries, rooted in the long-standing connection between Makran (present-day Pakistan) and Oman. These two regions shared economic and political ties, particularly through Gwadar Port, which historically served as a crucial link between Arabia, South Asia, and colonial European powers.[11]

Gwadar was under Omani rule for nearly two centuries, initially governed by Sultan bin Ahmad and later remaining part of the Omani Sultanate until 1958. That year, Sultan Said bin Taimur sold the territory to Pakistan for $3 million, officially transferring control of Gwadar.[12]

Al-Balushis in Kuwait

Al-Hatem says that during the reign of Sheikh Salem Al-Sabah, all the market guards (nawatir) were Al-Balushi, and their chief was called Abdullah Juma Dar (Abdullah Jumadar). In the last days of Sheikh Salem’s reign, he was relieved of his duties, and Sheikh Salem gave him and his group of Al-Balushi a plot of land, this later came to be known as the Al-Balushi neighborhood, or district, in the Sharq area. Al-Zaid says that some Al-Balushi used to come to Failaka Island to visit the shrines there. Some of them worked as divers for many of the owners of Kuwaiti pearling ships; the most famous of these, called Al-Balushi, was the Captain Fahad Abdulrahman Al-Balushi.[4]

People

Notable people with this surname include:

Sportspeople

Politicians

Miscellaneous

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Balochi: بلو چی, local definition: of, or related to Balochistan.

References

  1. ^ a b Al-Najjar, Baqer Salman (2018). الحداثة الممتنعة في الخليج العربي: تحولات المجتمع والدولة [The Unrelenting Modernity in the Arabian Gulf: Transformations of Society and State] (in Arabic). Dar al Saqi. p. 275. ISBN 9786144255650.
  2. ^ 'Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf. Vol. II. Geographical and Statistical. J G Lorimer. 1908' [258] (285/2084).
  3. ^ a b Hawker, Ron (2015). "A Beginner's Guide to Tribes in the UAE". Digital Heritage in the UAE. Archived from the original on 14 March 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2016. Some tribes trace roots to other ethnic groups. Among the most important of these are the Baluch (or in Arabic, the Al Balooshi). Their ancestors came from the Baluchistan district split between Iran and Pakistan in the late 19th century.
  4. ^ a b الياسين, عبدالعزيز بن مساعد (3 February 2007). كشاف الألقاب [Surnames index] (in Arabic). عبدالعزيز بن مساعد الياسين بواسطة مكتبة دار العروبة للنشر والتوزيع. pp. 38–9.
  5. ^ Frauke, Heard-Bey (2005). From Trucial States to United Arab Emirates: a society in transition. London: Motivate. p. 232. ISBN 1860631673. OCLC 64689681.
  6. ^ Mitri, Tarek; Ismaili, Ahmed (2017). al-Masʾala aṭ-ṭāʾifīya wa-ṣināʿat al-aqallīyāt fi 'l-waṭan al-ʿarabī (aṭ-Ṭabʿa al-ūlā ed.). aẓ-Ẓaʿāyin, Qaṭar Bairūt, Lubnān: al-Markaz al-ʿArabī li-'l-Abḥāṯ wa-Dirāsat as-Sīyāsāt. p. 536. ISBN 9786144451410.
  7. ^ Heard-Bey, Frauke (2005). From Trucial States to United Arab Emirates : a society in transition. London: Motivate. p. 508. ISBN 1860631673. OCLC 64689681.
  8. ^ Heard-Bey, Frauke (2005). From Trucial States to United Arab Emirates : a society in transition. London: Motivate. p. 225. ISBN 1860631673. OCLC 64689681.
  9. ^ Heard-Bey, Frauke (2005). From Trucial States to United Arab Emirates : a society in transition. London: Motivate. p. 226. ISBN 1860631673. OCLC 64689681.
  10. ^ Ahmad, Naveed (10 February 2016). "Harnessing the GCC's Baloch pedigree". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
  11. ^ Nicolini, Beatrice (2021). Letter of Marque: The Gwadar Enclave of Ibadi Sultans of Oman and Its Interconnections with Asia. Olms-Weidmann. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
  12. ^ Aamir, Adnan (11 December 2022). "Non-fiction: Deconstructing Gwadar". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Balushi
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