Al-Balushi
البلوشي | |
|---|---|
 Emirati political advisor Ahmed Bin Mahmoud Al Blooshi in Al Ain. |
Al-Balushi (Arabic: البلوشي; alternatively Baloushi, Balooshi, Bloushi or Blooshi)[1] 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). It is mainly an Arabized term derived from the term Balochi or Baluchi,[a] typically denoting Baloch ancestry from Balochistan.[2]
Many people carrying this surname trace their ancestral origins to Balochistan, a region in south Iran and Pakistan located across the Persian Gulf.[3] Their ancestors predominantly came from the Makran coast in the 18-20th century, and the main factors were: presence as mercenaries when Gwadar was under Omani rule, or trading and fishing, or participation in pearl diving seasons, or to escape conflict, strife and famine in home to seek work, food and shelter.[4] Their industrious nature enabled them to successfully maintain themselves in their new surroundings, as a community or as a tribe, as settled or nomads, and as dependents or independents. They all can speak Arabic, while some also use their original language of Balochi, and some speak Persian or Urdu (widely spoken as third languages). They are mainly Sunni Muslims.[2]
In addition to some surnames of in the Arab states of the Persian Gulf that became independent from the Al-Balushi surname, they are: Al-Houti (الهوتي) Hoth, Al-Raeesi (الرئيسي) Rais, Al-Ameeri (الأميري) Mir, Al-Taher (آل طاهر) Taherzai, and Al-Zadjali (الزدجالي) Jadgal.[5]
There are also many areas in the Arab states of the Persian Gulf that are 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, 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
[edit] | This section may require copy editing. (November 2024) |
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.[6]
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.[7]
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.[8]
Al-Balushis in Kuwait
[edit]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.[3]
People
[edit]Notable people with this surname include:
Sportspeople
[edit]- Azan Al-Balushi, Omani footballer
- Hamed Al-Balushi, Omani footballer
- Issa Ali Al-Bloushi, Emirati footballer
- Jamal Nabi Al-Balushi, Omani footballer
- Mohammed Al-Balushi, Omani footballer
- Muheeb Al-Balushi, Omani footballer
- Talal Al-Bloushi, Qatari footballer
- Wadha Al-Balushi, Omani sports shooter
- Khalid Al-Baloushi, Emirati footballer
- Walid Abbas Al-Balushi, Emirati footballer
- Rayan Al-Bloushi, Saudi Arabian footballer
- Hamad Al-Balooshi, Emirati footballer
- Mansoor Al-Baloushi, Emirati footballer
- Abdullah Al-Buloushi, Former Kuwaiti footballer
- Ayesha Al-Balooshi, Emirati weightlifter
- Ali Mohamed Al-Balooshi, Emirati middle-distance runner
- Ali Al-Balushi, Kuwaiti boxer
- Ali Anwar Al-Balushi, Omani sprinter
- Yousuf Al Balushi, Omani cricketer
- Hamed Al-Balushi، Omani footballer who plays for Fanja SC
Politicians
[edit]- Ahmed Bin Mahmoud Al Blooshi, Emirati political advisor
- Ibrahim bin Uthman Al-Balushi, former governor of Al-Ain
Miscellaneous
[edit]- Mai Al Balushi, Kuwaiti actress
- Salah Abdul Rasool Al Blooshi, Bahraini Guantanamo detainee
- Maram Al Balushi, Kuwaiti singer and actress
- Ammar al-Balushi, Pakistani-Kuwaiti Guantanamo detainee
- Hazza Al-Balushi, Omani Quran reciter
- Adeeb Al-Balushi, Emirati Inventor
- Khalid sheikh mohammed Al-Balushi, Kuwaiti-Pakistani Guantanamo detainee
See also
[edit]- Baloch people
- Baloch diaspora
- Baloch people in Iran
- Baloch people in India
- Baloch people in the United Arab Emirates
- Baloch people in Oman
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ 'Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf. Vol. II. Geographical and Statistical. J G Lorimer. 1908' [258] (285/2084).
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Frauke, Heard-Bey (2005). From Trucial States to United Arab Emirates: a society in transition. London: Motivate. p. 232. ISBN 1860631673. OCLC 64689681.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Ahmad, Naveed (10 February 2016). "Harnessing the GCC's Baloch pedigree". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Aamir, Adnan (11 December 2022). "Non-fiction: Deconstructing Gwadar". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 29 October 2024.