Dhaid

Dhaid, or Al Dhaid, is the capital of the central district of the Emirate of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. An oasis town, it has extensive irrigated date palm plantations with water channeled from the nearby Hajar mountains at least in part through ancient tunnels dug for that purpose, known as aflaj in Arabic (falaj in the singular).

Dhaid has long occupied a strategic location in the mouth of the important Wadi Siji.

History

At the turn of the 20th Century, Dhaid consisted of some 140 houses, owned by sections of the Tanaij, Bani Qitab and Khawatir tribes, including larger houses with mud brick towers. It also had a four-towered Al Qasimi fort.

Dhaid became the seat of deposed Ruler of Sharjah Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmad Al Qasimi in an agreement made in June 1927 with the new ruler, his nephew Sultan bin Saqr. After a period of infighting and negotiation between the tribes of Dhaid, the Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah and the Ruler of Sharjah, he was confirmed in this and was subsequently (after much wrangling between various Trucial Rulers and the British Agent) appointed Regent in Kalba in September 1937. He was married to Aisha, the daughter of the former Ruler of Kalba, Sheikh Said bin Hamad Al Qasimi, at the time of Sheikh Said's death in April 1937.