Northern Trucial Coast

The northern coast later known as the Trucial Coast belongs to the Gulf maritime world around Julfar and the approaches to the Strait of Hormuz. Fishing, pearling, coastal trade, and connections with inland pastoral and oasis communities support livelihoods in a dry environment. Boats carry dates, animals, fish products, imported cloth, and other goods between ports. Freshwater and sheltered anchorages give selected places importance to sailors and shore residents alike.

Julfar was a major centre of pearl fishing and trade, with archaeological finds reflecting connections across the Indian Ocean. As its lagoons silted up, the port shifted between sites: the medieval town occupied Mataf and Nudud, while Ras al-Khaimah became its main port by the mid-sixteenth century. The latter grew into a centre of the Qawasim; British attacks in 1809 and 1819 damaged the town and ended Julfar's dominance.