The dominant features shared by Arab gulf societies include climate, common history, and culture. They have at their disposal large oil reserves and the booming export business of this national treasure has brought great prosperity, development, and transformations to these cities ( Heard-Bey, 1990) . Life in this region has moved from a story of rags to riches. One of the cities that have undergone changes in the United Arab Emirates is Al Khan. This suburban area is located in the city of Sharjah which is the third most populous city in the UAE ( Fenelon, 1976) . It is located on the Arabian Peninsula. Much has changed in this region from a boisterous fishing village to one of the most beautiful locations in Sharjah.
Research Question
The research is How did Al Khan change over time? This research paper seeks to find answers to the research question by providing an in-depth information of how Al Khan, a city in the United Arab Emirates has transformed over time.
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Research Methods
The research method that I used to find the information in regards to the research question was majorly secondary sources that included books and an online Journal. I accessed these in my School library.
Research Findings
Cities and towns like Al Khan located along the coastal lines had better opportunities as compared to those that were located in the desert mainland. They were involved in fishing and pearling as well as long distance trading. These activities were also a learning experience for the nationals who developed a larger outlook on life. They were able to interact with other cultures as they conducted business. It is for this reason that the populations along the coast were more tolerable as compared to their conservative kin in the desert ( Heard-Bey, 1990) .
The region of Al khan is home to a traditional fishing village before it was abandoned. It boasts a rich history to the city of Sharjah with its coral houses and numerous watch towers. As the old cities are being restored, archaeologists are unearthing Neolithic structures that show the ways of the early settlers in this region. They were not different from what is seen in the area today from fishing to meals being prepared by an open fire and the community gathering to celebrate and receive the catch from the fishermen. The area was abandoned in the 1960s and all that remained were the houses and other structures that are being revealed to be roads track way systems. Long before the onslaught of oil, pearls were the source of wealth in the emirates. It is not clear when this activity took place. There have been pearls found in excavations that date back 7,000 years (Wilson, 1999). Towns and cities that were located along the coastal line such as Al Khan benefitted from the harvest of these pearls and they were used during trade with other communities and empires all over the world. Pearling offered employment for the residents of al khan who combined this with fishing. The divers were also able to travel to other regions as far as Sri Lanka to seek the precious commodity when the supply along the gulf diminished. The population of the coastal cities such as Sharjah where Al Khan is located received a growth in its populations as more permanent structures were constructed. It was a lucrative time and saw the growth of these cities. The depression that hit economies in the 1930s undermined the success of these fishing and pearling industries and it all but collapsed.
The business of pearling in Al khan was not just for the sake of economic prosperity, it was built around an intricate social system. Foreigners and outsiders were not allowed to participate in pearling by the rulers of Al khan unless permitted, and they banned any modern equipment during the harvesting process. The pearls were stored in rainwater to remove the green tint that stained the freshly harvested pearls and they were then wrapped in a red cloth and sorted ready for trade (Wilson, 1999).
The structures that were built in this ancient town were made of bulrushes and reeds and they would get their supplies along the beaches. Al khan has an impressive coastline that runs over 600 km and it about 200 meters wide. Researchers are having a heck of a time unearthing the remains of this old fishing town especially the coral buildings, courtyards and the road networks showing that the early inhabitants were civilized up to the point of abandonment. The area of Al khan is being renovated as a part of conserving the Arab emirates cultural heritage ( Simpson, 2016) . There is a mix of the old and the new and the local as well as tourists have the chance to visit and experience the old town and the relax by the sprawling public beach that has been equipped with all manner of sporting facilities designed to keep visitors fully occupied.
This old fishing village is now dominated by buildings of glass and steel but the government under the direction of the Abu Dhabi authority for culture and heritage has preserved as much of the old sites as they can. It was surrounded by mud walls, citadels, including over 60 pearling boats ( Simpson, 2016) . The building materials were sourced locally but there is evidence of wood being imported from India and east Africa which was used in the roofing of the structures. The proximity to the shorelines has the inhabitants’ access to fresh water and pearling grounds which further increased their economic status compared to their neighbors. Some of these structures of the pre-oil Al khan still hold today and they are preserved alongside sprawling skyscrapers representing the history of the towns from a humble traditional fishing village to the modern tourist attraction in is today ( Simpson, 2016) .
Even as these fishing villages sought to maintain their heritage and their economic activities, they were plagued with a need for urbanization a result of the oil generated growth facing many of the gulf countries. There was a rapid population growth in the capital cities and the oil industry had employment opportunities for both then locals and foreign workers. Slowly the fishing villages were abandoned as populations moved to the capital cities in search of better livelihoods. This migration led to the sprouting of various cities and towns along the way to accommodate the sudden influx of workers and immigrants (Wilson, 1999).
The influx of immigrants to the United Arab Emirates brought a tolerance for the western ideas but the Islamic rule still holds. Tourists are expected to have a certain code of conducts when out and about in the regions as a way of respect to the rule of the land. Gambling and sale of alcohol are permitted in certain regions in Sharjah and this can only be done under certain conditions. Foreign workers have flooded the market, and thanks to the oil industry in the country jobs are available with competitive packages. It has also led to foreign companies investing in this economically empowered region where the nationals and foreigners have disposable incomes and are always looking for the next best thing.
The Al Khan region of Sharjah has changed from a remote fishing village to one of the most expensive regions in Sharjah as far as housing is concerned. The old Al Khan area is the location of the Sharjah aquarium which boasts of a variety of marine life and takes the visitors on a tour of the old coast and the ports before the oil boom. The aquarium reflects the numerous marine life located in the deep sea from reef sharks to clown fish. It is the largest educational center in the UAE and its location in the fishing village of Al Khan gives a mix of the old coexisting alongside the new. Al Khan is far from the humble village with fishermen and pearl divers living peacefully along its shores, but even with all the modern structures coming up, the heritage of the town still exists.
References
Fenelon, K. G. (1976). The United Arab Emirates: an economic and social survey . Longman Publishing Group.
Heard-Bey, F. (1990). From the Trucial States to the United Arab Emirates. UK: Longman.
Simpson, C .(2016). Ancient settlements detected at Dalma Island and Al Khan . The National . Retrieved 17th November 2016. http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/ancient-settlements-detected-at-dalma-island-and-al-khan
Wilson, G. (1999). Father of Dubai. UAE : Media Prima.
