- Location: Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi): formerly Tu᾽am/Tawwan and later al-Jau. It is also spelt al-ʼAyn 'The Spring' (of water) from the abundant springs (Arabic
aïn) in the area. It is situated in the Buraimi Oasis which contained nine villages. Collectively they are known as al-Ain, although Buraimi (al-Buraymī) is in Oman; there is no formal international border in the Oasis. With the prospect of oil being discovered, Saudi Arabia made a claim to the entire Oasis in 1949, based on a Saudi presence there during the 18th century. Sovereignty was not clearly defined: the British, who exercised power in south-east Arabia at the time, considered that six of the villages belonged to Abu Dhabi and three to Oman. Saudi forces occupied part of the Oasis in 1952. The question of sovereignty was sent to international arbitration, but the talks collapsed in 1955. Meanwhile, it had been agreed in 1953 by Abu Dhabi, Oman, and the UK that the six villages should be part of Abu Dhabi and the other three part of Oman. The Saudis were forcibly driven out of the Oasis in 1955. The border between Abu Dhabi and Oman was demarcated in 1966 and the dispute with Saudi Arabia was finally settled in 1974.
