The Buraimi Oasis is a region where the borders of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia meet those of the United Arab Emirates and the Sultanate of Oman in the southeastern part of the Arabian Peninsula.
Buraimi was among the regions that declared allegiance to the First Saudi State during the reign of Imam Saud bin Abdulaziz, may God have mercy on him, in 1225 AH. During the Second Saudi State, its rulers appointed governors over Buraimi in their name, the last of whom was Prince Turki bin Ahmad Al‑Sudairi, may God have mercy on him, who built a palace there that came to be known as “Al‑Sudairi Palace.”
This coincided with the British presence in the Gulf region. Britain focused on the coastal areas and neglected the interior, and thus did not object to the extension of Saudi influence into this region.
However, after Britain failed in its attempt to explore for oil in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province—leading King Abdulaziz, may God have mercy on him, to entrust the task to the American company Standard Oil of California, which succeeded—relations between Saudi Arabia and Britain deteriorated. Britain, exploiting its protection over Muscat and Abu Dhabi (at a time when King Abdulaziz had not yet signed border‑demarcation agreements with Britain in that region), claimed that the Buraimi Oasis belonged to the two British protectorates.
Thus, in 1369 AH, Britain prevented Saudi Arabia from conducting exploration in the area on the grounds that it was a disputed territory, while allowing itself in the following year (1370 AH) to do what it had forbidden Saudi Arabia from doing. Saudi Arabia protested, and exploration activities ceased. King Abdulaziz issued an order to form a civil mission to administer the Buraimi region, headed by Prince Turki bin Atishan, may God have mercy on him, who began his duties in 1372 AH / 1952. Britain, however, besieged him in the Buraimi Oasis.
In 1374 AH, Saudi and British representatives met in France and signed an agreement to refer the case to the International Arbitration Tribunal in Geneva. But in 1375 AH, Britain instructed its representative to resign and proceeded to invade the Buraimi Oasis by military force. This angered King Saud, may God have mercy on him, who strongly protested to Britain, demanded its immediate withdrawal, and reinforced his position by submitting a formal complaint to the United Nations and the Security Council.
At that point, the sheikhs and notables of every region in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia sent telegrams declaring their readiness to fight Britain in the Buraimi Oasis. Below are selected telegrams sent by the people of the northern regions—particularly Al‑Jouf and Al‑Qurayyat.
1. Telegrams Published on Sunday, 11 Rabi‘ al‑Thani 1375 AH (27 November 1955)
- ‘Ashiq Al‑Lihawi, on behalf of the Shararat tribe:
“Your Majesty, the revered and exalted King: We have learned of the distressing news of the English occupation of Buraimi. The Shararat tribe has unanimously resolved to prepare with all that it possesses—lives and wealth—for jihad in the cause of God under your banner. May God preserve and sustain you.” - Muhammad ibn Wardah, on behalf of the Al‑Madi clan of the Shararat:
“Your Majesty the great King: We, your subjects of the Al‑Madi clan, offer ourselves for jihad in the cause of God until the enemies of God are expelled from Buraimi. May God uphold your honor.” - Sahen Al‑Faqir, on behalf of the Bani Wahb clan of the ‘Anazah tribe in Al‑Qurayyat:
“Your Majesty the great King: We have heard of the English entry into Buraimi, and we are prepared for jihad in the cause of God until they are expelled. May God strengthen Islam and the Muslims.” - Salman ibn Simhan and Jad‘an Al‑Lihawi, on behalf of the people of Al‑‘Uyoon Al‑Bayd in Al‑Qurayyat:
“Your Majesty the great King: We have heard of the armed English aggression against Buraimi, and we are prepared for jihad in the cause of God until they are expelled, under your banner. May God strengthen Islam and the Muslims.” - ‘Ayd ibn Musbah and Sumayhan ibn Hamoud, on behalf of the ‘Awazim clan in Jamajim, Al‑Qurayyat:
“Your Majesty the great King: We have heard of the British aggression against Buraimi, and we are prepared for jihad in the cause of God until they are expelled, under your banner. May God strengthen Islam and the Muslims.” - Muḥaylan ibn Khunay‘an, on behalf of the people of Al‑‘Adhīmayyāt in Al‑Qurayyat:
“Your Majesty the great King: We have heard of the British aggression against Buraimi, and we are prepared for jihad in the cause of God until they are expelled, under your banner. May God strengthen Islam and the Muslims.” - Mu‘taq ibn Wardah, on behalf of the people of Al‑Zuwayqi‘ in Al‑Qurayyat:
“Your Majesty the revered King: We have heard of the British entry into Buraimi, and we are prepared for jihad in the cause of God until they are expelled, under your banner. May God strengthen Islam and the Muslims.” - Fayhman Abu Shāmah, on behalf of the Bali tribe in Wadi Al‑Sirhan:
“Your Majesty the great King: We have heard of the English entry into Buraimi, and we are prepared for jihad in the cause of God until they are expelled. May God strengthen Islam and the Muslims.” - Suwailim ibn Duwairij, on behalf of the Salim clan of the Shararat:
“Your Majesty the great King: We have heard of the British treachery in Buraimi, and we are prepared to struggle in the cause of God until they are expelled. May God strengthen Islam and the Muslims.” - Muṭī‘ Al‑Rammali, on behalf of the people of Al‑Jufayrāt in Al‑Qurayyat:
“Your Majesty the great King: We have heard of the British aggression against Buraimi, and we are prepared for jihad in the cause of God until they are expelled. May God strengthen Islam and the Muslims.” - Khalaf Al‑Filyu, on behalf of the people of Qulayb Khudr in Al‑Qurayyat:
“Your Majesty the great King: We have heard of the English entry into Buraimi, and we are prepared for jihad in the cause of God until they are expelled, under your banner. May God strengthen Islam and the Muslims.”
2. Telegrams Published on Wednesday, 28 Rabi‘ al‑Thani 1375 AH (14 December 1955)
- Muhammad ibn Darzi, chief of the Dughmī of the Ruwalah in Al‑Jouf:
“My lord, the great King: We have learned of the vile English aggression against the Buraimi Oasis, which is an inseparable part of our beloved Kingdom. My tribe, my wealth, and I are at your noble disposal for jihad in the cause of God.” - Abdullah Malbas Al‑Jabrin Al‑Shammari, on behalf of his people in Hail:
“My lord, Your Majesty the great King: I volunteer myself and my followers from the settled and nomadic people for the Buraimi war. We place ourselves entirely at your command for this cause or any similar one. May God protect you.” - Kasib ibn ‘Abkali, on behalf of the Shalqan tribes in Arar:
“My lord King Saud: We have learned of the British aggression against the Buraimi Oasis, and my clan and I are at Your Majesty’s disposal to defend our beloved country.” - Ibrahim Al‑Salim Al‑Nabhan, from Hail:
“My lord, Your Majesty the great King—may God support you: Since we heard of the English aggression against Buraimi, we have been in growing distress. As I send this telegram, I offer myself, my wealth, and my son to Your Majesty’s command in response to this heinous aggression. May God preserve you as a shield for the nation and an honor for Islam.”
3. Telegrams Published on Sunday, 3 Jumada al‑Ula 1375 AH (18 December 1955)
- Hamed ibn Maqnit Al‑Sharari, from Arar:
“Your Majesty the great King: On behalf of the Shararat tribe in general and the Al‑‘Azzam clan in particular, we offer our wealth and our men in sacrifice for our beloved homeland. We stand with Your Majesty in repelling the English aggression against the Buraimi Oasis. May God support you, and we await your command to fulfill our duty.” - Hamzah Abu Salim, from Turaif:
*“My lord, the great King: All of Arabia calls upon you to strike the hands of the treacherous. We appreciate Your Majesty’s response to the Islamic nations:
‘If the enemy musters an army of cruelty,
We shall build from steadfast patience impregnable fortresses.’”
4. Telegrams Published on Wednesday, 20 Jumada al‑Ula 1375 AH (4 January 1956)
- ‘Amash Al‑Juraid, chief of the Dhiba‘in of the Shararat in Al‑Jouf:
“My lord, the revered King: The Shararat tribe has gathered with its forces and wealth, urging us to march with twenty thousand fighters to defeat the usurper of our beloved Buraimi. It is my honor to convey their patriotic zeal for jihad in defense of the homeland under your victorious banner. May God preserve you and defeat the colonizer at your hands.” - Farhan ibn Rahil ibn ‘Atiyyah, from Tabuk:
“Your Majesty the great King—may God support you: We have heard of the painful aggression against Buraimi, which is part of Saudi land. Therefore, we offer ourselves and our wealth to Your Majesty for jihad in the cause of God and the homeland. May God grant you victory.” - Jalal ibn Hishal, from Qara in Al‑Jouf:
“Your Majesty the great King: My sons and I denounce the English aggression against the Saudi land of Buraimi, and we offer ourselves in sacrifice to defend our beloved land under Your Majesty’s command. May God strengthen you for the sake of Arabism and Islam.” - Falah Al‑Zayed Al‑Tuwaiyan and his brother Saleh, from Arar:
“My lord, the King: Your servant offers himself, his children, and all he owns for jihad in the cause of God and the homeland.” - Salim ibn ‘Uwaydh Al‑Humaydi, from Tabuk:
“My lord, the great King: I offer my wealth, my children, and all that I possess in sacrifice for Your Majesty and for the homeland.”
5. Telegrams Published on Tuesday, 26 Jumada al‑Ula 1375 AH (10 January 1956)
- Qasim Al‑Qars Al‑Rashaida Al‑Sharari, from Al‑Jufayrāt in Al‑Qurayyat:
“Your Majesty the great King: Following the English aggression against part of our beloved homeland—the Buraimi Oasis—I offer myself, my children, and my group, numbering more than one thousand men, for jihad in the cause of God. We ask Your Majesty to register us in the first contingent sent to fight. May God uphold your honor.” - Muḥaysin ibn ‘Aqil Al‑‘Awdi, on behalf of the people of Wadi Sahel, Gulf of Aqaba:
“My lord King Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Saud: On my own behalf and on behalf of the Masa‘id clan, we denounce the English aggression against the Saudi Buraimi Oasis and offer ourselves and all that we possess for jihad in the cause of God and in defense of Your Majesty’s throne and our beloved homeland.”
6. Telegrams Published on Friday, 20 Jumada al‑Akhirah 1375 AH (3 February 1956)
- Sheikh Manoukh ibn Du‘ayja, chief of the Hilsah of the Shararat in Al‑Jouf:
“Your Majesty the great King: The Hilsah of the Shararat offer their wealth in sacrifice for Your Majesty and the homeland, asking God to preserve you as a protector of Muslims and Arabism and to grant you victory over your enemies.” - Muflih ibn Firas, from Dumat Al‑Jandal:
“Your Majesty the great King: Your servant denounces the English aggression against the homeland. I volunteer myself, my sons, and my property, and I await your command, my lord.”
I hope that what I have presented will benefit their descendants and families, inspiring them to follow the example of their forefathers in loyalty and sacrifice for this generous homeland under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz—may God support him—and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Minister of Defense—may God grant him health—and His Royal Highness Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz, Second Deputy Prime Minister—may God preserve him.
Peace and God’s mercy and blessings be upon you.
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Dr. Naif Al‑Sanid Al‑Sharari