Dhaid, or Al Dhaid (), is the capital of the Central Region of the Emirate of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. An oasis town, it has extensive irrigated date palm plantations with water channelled from the nearby Hajar mountains, at least in part through ancient tunnels dug for that purpose, known as aflāj in Arabic (falaj in the singular).
Dhaid has long occupied a strategic location in the mouth of the important Wadi Siji.
History and prehistory
An archaeological site discovered here in 2015 shows evidence of habitation by humans going back hundreds of thousands of years to the Stone Age. In particular, awls for piercing holes in the leather of animal hides, scrapers for cleaning leather, and stone axes were found here.
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, featuring two round and two square towers, Dhaid Fort.
The town was maintained for the Ruler of Sharjah by a walī (), who would collect tithes in the form of dates, as well as water rates (paying 228 Maria Theresa thalers in 1906). These revenues became core to a dispute of Al-Qasimi family over Dhaid in the 1920s. The Sharjah-Mleiha-Kalba Road passes to the south of the town. Dhaid is an oasis town, fed both by seasonal wadis and by underground aquifers and water sources. It has extensive date palms and other plantations.
Places of interest
Jebel Mileiha, some to the south of Dhaid, is the site of 'Fossil Rock', a popular off-road destination and now home to the Mleiha Archaeological Centre, which displays important archaeological finds from the area dating back 125,000 years, through the Umm Al Nar era to the later Hellenistic period, including 2nd century BCE coins.
Citizens only rule
Based on the directives of the Sharjah Ruler, Al Dhaid Municipality has confirmed that renting houses to non-citizens within residential neighbourhoods is strictly prohibited. The decision by Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of Supreme Council, is aimed at protecting the privacy of citizens as well as their customs and traditions. He issued the directive after meeting with people of the city on several occasions.
Ali Musabah Al Tunaiji, director of Al Dhaid Municipality, said non-citizens are banned from renting houses in all eight residential neighbourhoods of the city. If a complaint is received about an expat living in these areas, the municipality will inform the owner about Sheikh Sultan's directives.