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 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,[a] typically denoting Baloch ancestry from Balochistan.[3]

Many people carrying this surname trace their ancestral origins to Balochistan, a region in south Iran and Pakistan 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, with the exception of 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-Mazemi (المازمي) Mazam, and Al-Zadjali (الزدجالي) Jadgal.[6]

There are also several places in the Arab states of the Persian Gulf named after Al-Balushi, including Sur-Al-Balushi in Shinas, Oman; Fareej Al-Balushi in Basra, Iraq; Al-Balushi District in Sharq, Kuwait; Ali Mohammed Al Balushi Street in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia; Al-Balushi District in Abu Hamour, Qatar; Al-Balushi Mosque in Manama, Bahrain; and Ahmed bin Mahmoud Al Balushi Street in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

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, and it is estimated that Al-Balushis make up approximately 35% of its population.[7]

The historical presence of Al-Balushis in Oman dates back centuries, rooted in the long-standing connection between Makran (in 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.[8]

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.[9]

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, which was later 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, and some of them worked as divers for many of the owners of Kuwaiti pearling ships. The most famous of those 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 htribes 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. ^ مؤلفين, مجموعة; السياسات, المركز العربي للأبحاث ودراسة (1 January 2017). المسألة الطائفية وصناعة الأقليات في الوطن العربي [The sectarian issue and the creation of minorities in the Arab world] (in Arabic). المركز العربي للأبحاث ودراسة السياسات. ISBN 978-614-445-141-0.
  7. ^ Ahmad, Naveed (10 February 2016). "Harnessing the GCC's Baloch pedigree". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ 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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