Umm al-Quwain

Umm al-Quwain
إمارة أمّ القيوين
Emirate

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Location of Umm al-Quwain in the UAE
Coordinates: 25°59′11″N 55°56′24″E / 25.98639°N 55.94000°E / 25.98639; 55.94000Coordinates: 25°59′11″N 55°56′24″E / 25.98639°N 55.94000°E / 25.98639; 55.94000
Emirate Umm al-Quwain
Government
  Type Constitutional monarchy
  Emir Saud bin Rashid Al Mu'alla
Area
  Metro 755 km2 (292 sq mi)
Population (2007)
  Metro 72,000
Time zone UAE Standard Time (UTC+4)

Umm al-Quwain (Arabic: أمّ القيوين) is the least populous of the seven sovereign emirates in the United Arab Emirates, located in the north of the country. The emirate is ruled by Saud bin Rashid Al Mu'alla. The emirate had 62,000 inhabitants in 2003 and has an area of 750 km2 (290 sq mi).

History

Umm al-Quwain holds significant archaeological interest, with major finds at both Tell Abraq and Al Dour.[1] Arrowheads and other polished flint tools have been unearthed in various sites across the UAE while pieces of Ubaid pottery have been unearthed along the shores of the emirate. All evidence obtained so far indicate that contact with Mesopotamia existed as early as the 5th millennium BC as an indigenous ceramic industry did not emerge until the 3rd century BC.

During the Bronze Age (3000–1300 BC), semi-nomadic tribes inhabited the region; they shifted in groups from place to place foraging for timber from the indigenous acacia for smelting copper. The metal was sent to all the prominent ports on the Persian Gulf, Umm Al Nar being one of them. Ties with Mesopotamia were jealously maintained and consequently the trade in copper ushered in prosperity in the region.

During the Bronze Age, agriculture flourished, with dates being the prominent crop. Wheat, millet and other grains were also cultivated wherever there was enough water for irrigation. It is now widely believed that the climate during the period was more temperate than now. During the Umm al-Nar period (2500–2000 BC), buildings and fortress towers came up in Umm Al Quwain. The most common buildings associated with this era are the circular burial tombs.

The modern history of Umm Al Quwain began some 200 years ago when the Al Ali tribe moved their capital from Al-Sinniyah Island to its present location in the mid-18th century due to declining water resources. In 1775, Sheikh Majid Al Mualla, founder of the ruling Al Mu’alla lineage of the Al Ali tribe, established an independent Sheikhdom in Umm al-Quwain.

On 8 January 1820, Sheikh Abdullah I signed the General Maritime Treaty with the United Kingdom, thus accepting a British protectorate in order to keep the Ottoman Turks out. Like Ajman, Dubai, Ras al-Khaimah and Sharjah, its position on the route to India made it important enough to be recognized as a salute state with a three gun salute.

By 1903, Lorimer's famous survey of the Trucial Coast had Umm Al Qawain as a town of some 5,000 inhabitants and identified it as the major boat-building centre of the coast, producing some 20 boats a year compared to 10 in Dubai and 5 in Sharjah.[2]

On 2 December 1971, Sheikh Ahmad II joined its neighbors Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman and Fujairah in forming the United Arab Emirates, with Ras Al Khaimah joining later in early 1972.

The successive rulers were:

Climate

During November to March, the average temperature is 26 °C (79 °F) by day and 15 °C (59 °F) at night, but it can rise to over 40 °C (104 °F) [3] in the peak of the summer and when humidity levels are high. The rainfall is minimal and averages 42 mm (1.7 in) a year. The coastline experiences cooling sea breezes during the day.

Culture

The UAE culture mainly revolves around the religion of Islam and traditional Arab culture. The influence of Islamic and Arab culture on its architecture, music, attire, cuisine and lifestyle are very prominent as well. Five times every day, Muslims are called to prayer from the minarets of mosques which are scattered around the country. Since 2006, the weekend has been Friday-Saturday, as a compromise between Friday's holiness to Muslims and the Western weekend of Saturday-Sunday.[4]

Environment

Al-Sinniyah island, close to the town of Umm al-Qaiwain is home to the UAE's largest Socotra cormorant colony, with over 15,000 pairs making it the third largest colony in the world. Arabian gazelle have been introduced to Sinniyah and appear to be prospering. Marine life is remarkable for its abundance and diversity. Blacktip reef sharks patrol the outer shoreline, while green turtles are ubiquitous in the inner leads in particular. Between Al-Sinniyah and the mainland is Khor al-Beidah, an expansive area of sand and mud flats of international importance for its waterfowl.

Although not formally protected, the island of Sinaiyah, along with Khor al-Beidah, is one of the largest areas of undisturbed and varied coastal environment remaining anywhere in the UAE.[5]

Tourism

See also

References

  1. "Archaeologists strike gold in Umm Al Quwain". Gulfnews. May 17, 2009. Retrieved September 2014.
  2. Lorimer, John (1906). Gazeteer of the Persian Gulf, Oman and Central Arabia. UK: Government of India. p. 1441.
  3. "Umm Al Quwain Weather". yagulf.com.
  4. Jonathan Sheikh-Miller. "UAE Weekend Switchover". AMEinfo. Retrieved 22 March 2010.
  5. "Umm Al Quwain - Around the city". Al-emirates.com. Retrieved 2011-08-10.
  6. "Heritage a new industry". Gulfnews.com. 2010-07-11. Retrieved 2011-08-10.
  7. "Al Dur, United Arab Emirates". Planetware.com. Retrieved 2011-08-10.
  8. "Welcome to Dreamland Aqua Park". Dreamlanduae.com. Retrieved 2011-08-10.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Umm al-Quwain.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Umm al Quwain.
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