Sharjah Oil, Al Ain Agriculture and Society Power in the UAE are the main themes of the new edition…

The National Archives issues the 16th edition of the refereed journal Liwa.

The National Archives of the United Arab Emirates issued the 16th edition of the refereed Journal: Liwa. It is specialized in the history, heritage and archeology of the UAE and the Gulf region, and it is issued bi-annually in both Arabic and English. 



The new edition opens with an article written by Michael Quentin Morten about the English entrepreneur Francis William Reckitt’s visit to Sharjah in 1936 with the purpose of hunting for oil concessions. The article dealt with Reckitt’s activities in the field of oil, reviewed his visit to the sheikhdom of Sharjah and the reactions to it. The article indicates the fact that Reckitt was known as “Lawrence of Oil” on account of his Middle Eastern connections. He was a wealthy man who left behind highly controversial issues, including a plan to buy Mexican oil supplies after the nationalization of the oil industry in 1938. Later, he was declared bankrupt in 1948, and he passed away in 1981.

The second study discusses the economic transformation in Al Ain during the governance of Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan in the pre-oil era. The study, which was prepared by Jayanti Maitra, depicted the prosperity of the Eastern Region of Abu Dhabi, known as Buraimi Oasis, during the tenure of Sheikh Zayed (1946-1966); thus adding a new dimension to its strategic importance. Sheikh Zayed was a blessing God bestowed upon this fertile and water rich area as he dedicated his efforts to turn it to a lush oasis, where people enjoyed health care and education. The study concluded that sheikh Zayed was ahead of his time in thought and action. He reached out to his people with a promise “Give me agriculture and I assure you of civilization”.  His undaunted spirit, tireless efforts and legendary generosity take credit for the fact that the desert turned green and the main village of Al Ain, the largest village in Al Buraimi Oasis, emerged as the economic and political hub of the Oasis in the pre-oil era.

The third article in the 16th edition of Liwa journal is entitled: “Crime and Punishment in the UAE Society in the Pre-Union Era”. It is a historical study of the security and the criminal situation in the UAE society in the twentieth century.

This study, prepared by Fatima Al Sayegh, sheds light on the security situation in the UAE society since the beginning of the twentieth century until the establishment of the Union. Therefore, it uncovers important aspects of the evolution of the legal community and the judiciary, as well as the emergence of civil laws and judicial legislation governing the relationship between individual and society on the one hand, and individual and the state on the other. Furthermore, the study sheds light on the nature and types of the crimes committed, methods of tracking and detecting them, as well as punishments. The article explains the role of community power in the absence of state authority.

The Last article in the Arabic part of the 16th edition of Liwa Journal presents a book issued by “King Abdul Aziz Foundation” entitled: “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and The Arab League, Positions and Selected Documents”. The book was published within the framework of the Arab League celebrations of the “Arab Document” Day on October, 28th, 2015, which coincided with the 70th Anniversary of its establishment (1945-2015). The introduction of the book detects the relationship with the Arab League, which started during the reign of the late king Abdul Aziz, and his sons’ contributions and support to the establishment of the Arab League, all the way to the support of the Custodian of the Holy Shrines, King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud.  The book contains 31 documents, 11 photos and 20 news articles which introduce the reader, the intellectual and political researcher to the history of the relationship between the kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Arab League.  

The   English section of the 16th edition of Liwa includes three articles:  One written by Michael Quintin Morton about the journey of the English entrepreneur Francis William Reckitt to Sharjah in 1936; the second is a study prepared by Jayanti Miatra about the prosperity of the Eastern Region known as Al Buraimi Oasis at the hands of Sheikh Zayed in the period 1946-1966; and the third article is about the construction of Wadi Ham Bridge in Fujairah.