VZCZCXRO2529
RR RUEHDE
DE RUEHDE #3054 1421015
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 221015Z MAY 06
FM AMCONSUL DUBAI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0786
INFO RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEHAD/AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI 1496
RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI 3743
RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEHMS/AMEMBASSY MUSCAT 0025

UNCLAS DUBAI 003054 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PINS SOCI KDEM MU AE
SUBJECT: DURING VISIT BY CONGENOFFS, RAS AL-KHAIMAH SHIHUH RENEW 
COMPLAINTS ABOUT NEW BORDER FENCE BETWEEN OMAN AND UAE 
 
REF: DUBAI 0467, 05 DUBAI 3994 
 
1.(SBU) SUMMARY: Abdullah al-Hadia al-Shehhi, Vice President of 
the Shihuh Culture and Heritage Society (SCHS) in Ras al-Khaimah 
(RAK) hosted Consulate officers April 30 for discussions about 
the situation facing the group in UAE, including the border 
fence along the UAE-Omani border, Shihuh democratic traditions, 
and other social issues. Al-Shehhi talked about the size and the 
history of the Shihuh, and the relationship between SCHS and the 
Shihuh cultural group in Abu Dhabi. END SUMMARY 
 
2.(SBU) At the invitation of the Shihuh Culture and Heritage 
Society (SCHS), Congenoffs traveled April 30 to Ras al-Khaimah 
(RAK) to attend a cultural performance at the SCHS center in 
RAK.  The event was hosted by the SCHS Vice President, Abdullah 
al-Hadia al-Shehhi. Nearly 40 members of the Shihuh performed 
traditional dances and songs. Afterwards Al-Shehhi and other 
members of the Shihuh discussed a number of social issues with 
Congenoffs. SCHS invited a reporter from al-Bayan, a Dubai based 
Arabic language daily newspaper, to cover the meeting. 
 
Background on the Shihuh 
------------------------ 
 
3.(U) Al-Shehhi described the Shihuh as "the largest and oldest 
tribe in the UAE," but he was unwilling to estimate the number 
of tribesmen. (Background: The Shihuh, most of whom live in 
mountainous ares in RAK and Fujeirah in the UAE, and ing the 
mountains of the Oman's Musandam Peninsula, historically have 
been difficult to govern. The Shihuh have their own distinct 
culture and several distinct dialects -- see ref A.)  Although 
the Shihuh are based in the northern portion of the UAE and 
Oman, they can now be found working, and in some cases residing, 
in all major UAE cities.  There are competing stories regarding 
the origin of the Shihuh; according to al-Shehhi, they migrated 
from Mareb, Yemen to the Dibba area when the Mareb Dam collapsed 
almost 1500 years ago. (The Mareb Dam collapsed in approximately 
570 A.D.) 
 
UAE-Oman Border Fence a Hot Issue 
--------------------------------- 
 
4.(SBU) The Shihuh we spoke to April 30 said their specific 
grievance with the UAE government (see also Ref A) was that a 
new fence being built along the UAE-Oman border restricted 
freedom of movement across their historical homeland, which 
spans both two countries. They complained they are now required 
to cross the border at al Jeer and must show identity cards. Not 
only did they dislike the inconvenience, they find it offensive 
that they cannot travel freely between their newer homes in the 
UAE and their older homes and lands in the mountains in the 
Omani part of the Musandam. 
 
Democratic Traditions of the Shihuh 
----------------------------------- 
 
5.(U) Al-Shehhi proudly pointed out that the leadership of the 
SCHS is elected - not appointed. He and other Shihuh present 
said that democracy is very important them. All of the members 
present were quite proud that any member of the Shihuh could be 
elected to lead the SCHS, which they said was a reflection of 
the "liberal" views held by the Shihuh. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
6.(SBU) The Shihuh have two cultural organizations in the UAE, 
the SCHS, based in RAK, and the Shihuh Folklore Association 
(SFA), based in Abu Dhabi.  Al-Shehhi said that that the only 
difference between the two groups is their location; he claimed 
that the number of Shihuh living in Abu Dhabi was large enough 
to support the SFA.  The founder of SFA in Abu Dhabi, on the 
other hand, related in an earlier meeting that he had 
established his organization in Abu Dhabi only because the Ruler 
of RAK had forbidden the Shihuh from organizing there (ref A). 
He claimed the SCHS had formed much later than his group, and 
said his relations with the new group were strained. 
 
DAVIS