Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
At the convergence of desert, sea and oases, the Al Dhafra region, covering nearly two-thirds of Abu Dhabi, boasts a distinctive blend of natural beauty and historical significance with human settlements tracing back 120,000 years.
Although the region’s desert landscape is marked by scarce and unpredictable rainfall, the Liwa oasis with its date palms offer essential shade and shelter, while the warm waters between islands create rich marine habitats.
Nestled between the Empty Quarter and the Arabian Gulf to the west of Abu Dhabi, Al Dhafra Region is made up of seven towns whose inhabitants preserve the rich legacy of fishing, pearling and farming, all the while incorporating modern-era professions in the fields of energy, manufacturing and tourism, among others, according to the Abu Dhabi Culture website.
Despite its sparse population, Al Dhafra is pivotal to the UAE’s economy, housing 80% of the nation’s oil reserves.
During the Quaternary Period — a time span that witnessed the extinction of many large mammals and birds and climate changes, which began 2.6 million years ago — the formation of sand dunes marked significant geological changes, and humans began settling in the area around 120,000 years ago.
In the face of the region’s hyper-arid climate, people, plants, and animals have developed various adaptations to sustain its diverse ecosystems.
Al Dhafra’s geology and fossils reveal a climate that alternated between wet and dry conditions over millions of years.
In Al Dhafra, the local environment impacted its people, leading them to rely on each other. Bedouins travelled with their livestock in search of pasture, while the sedentary people cultivated the oasis of Liwa.
Community Bonds
Bound by social, political, and economic ties, the region’s tribes are families with close links, providing mutual support and security.
In Al Dhafra, the Bani Yas confederation comprises around 20 tribes, who traditionally hold rights to grazing lands, farms, and water sources.
This confederation has considerably shaped the nation’s history.
Regardless of the rise of the oil industry in the mid-20th century, traditional values of hospitality, generosity, loyalty, and strong family bonds continue to be cherished despite changes brought in my modernity.
Flora and Fauna
The remains of plants and animals, including sabre-toothed cats and crocodiles, have been uncovered in the region. The Arabian Gulf, notably off the coast of Al Dhafra, hosts the world’s second-largest population of dugongs.
The Arabian Gulf’s warm waters provided an ideal environment for shellfish, remarkably pearl-bearing oysters.
During the 19th and 20th centuries, pearl diving driven by high demand for natural pearls linked Al Dhafra to global trade routes.
Forts and Watchtowers In Al Dhafra, particularly in Liwa, numerous forts and watchtowers were constructed by the Bani Yas to safeguard their settlements, wells, and oases.
Restoration and rebuilding of many of these forts and towers have been underway since the 1980s, driven by the initiative of the UAE’s Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
