Qatif: The Historical Coastal City

Qatif is a historic coastal city and oasis located on the western shore of the Persian (Arabian) Gulf in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. The history of Qatif dates back to 3500 BC in the late Bronze Age. It was known by other names, such as the most famous «Al-Khutt» and «Cateus» the Greek name. Some early European maps labeled the entire present-day Gulf as the «Sea of El Catif».
Castles, citadels and ancient ruins and cemeteries are examples of the deep roots of Qatif in history. These roles continued till the unification of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia when it lost its place to Dammam the capital city of Eastern Province in the early 1940's. Traditionally reliant on agriculture and fishing, Qatif has become famous in the oil industry recently, mainly due to the giant Qatif Oil Project.

Location and weather
Qatif (known also as El-Katif / Al-Qatif) is located on the western shore of the Persian (Arabian) Gulf in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia at Latitude of 26.52 and Longitude of 50.02. Qatif has hot and humid summers and mild winters. Sand storms are normally encountered during summer. Qatif has excellent connections with other urban centers of Saudi Arabia by highways, and is also close to the causeway to Bahrain. Qatif is served by the King Fahd International Airport in Dammam.
The oasis covers a large area that includes the city of Qatif and many other cities and villages such as Saihat, Anak, Safwa, Awamiya, Awjam, Qudaih, Khuwailidiya, Jaroodiya, Umm Al-Hamam, Sanabis, Darin, as well as Tarut Island.

Historical Background
Qatif played major roles in the history of ancient civilizations; Phoenicians and Greeks. Thanks to its prominent location on the Gulf, Qatif dominated the Gulf trades between India (spices) and Europe. Trading ships stopped at Qatif's port for food and water and trading negotiations.
Prior to the Islamic revelation, Qatif was known for its war industry and bravery during wars. «Khutti Spears» were the pride of Qatif. Only strong and mighty knights would have these spears. Famous knights used these spears during battles and during tribal invasions.
When Prophet Mohammad (A.S) started the Islamic Revelation, Qatif sent a delegation to the Prophet (A.S) and joined Islam. The Prophet (S.A) praised Qatif people for their strong faith and support to Islam. Qatif and its sister oasis Al-Hassa were known for their support to the Prophet and his clan (S.A).
Since the early days of Islam, Qatif and Al-Hassa were known as Shiites Muslims due to their support to Ali (A.S) the son in law of the Prophet (A.S). Since then, Qatif majority population remained Shiites Muslims. Like millions of Shiites around the world, Qatif observes Ashura days (The first 10 days of Muharram, the first month in the Hijri Calendar). During Ashura all sorts of life will cease, and the whole region is dressed in black. During Ashura days, Qatif mourns the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (A.S) the grandson of Prophet Mohammad (A.S) and his family in the battle of Karbala. Men, women and children are all dressed in black.

Economy
Qatif is located in the midst of one of the largest oases in the world. It is famous for its springs, palm trees and, of course, oil fields. After the discovery of oil, many residents sought employment with Saudi ARAMCO. Qatif's economy is a mixture of agriculture and petroleum related activities. The agriculture was modernized in the 1960's. Dates, alfalfa, rice, fruits, and vegetables are typical products.
Fishing is also a traditional activity that still is of great importance. Qatif Fish Market is the largest market in Kingdom and the Gulf. Qatif acts as an importer/exporter of fish from and to the Gulf markets. Qatif Fish Market is a lively attraction. Auctioneers start their day right after the dusk prayers and could extend up to midnight.

Sight Seeing

• Tarut Citadel
Few origins of Tarut Citadel are not known for certain, except that it was built over 5000-year old settlements. Legends envisage a variety of historical images. The Citadel was built between 1515-1521 A.D. by the people of Qatif or Tarut for protection against Portuguese attackers. Another story is that the Portuguese built it for protection against Turkish attacks. After being forced to surrender in 1559 A.D., the Portuguese fled Tarut for the Island of Awal (Bahrain).
Tarut Citadel is surrounded by a wide wall of terracotta material, gypsum, and stones. Crab-shaped in its totality, the 9-meter-high wall from bottom to top ranged between 1-2.5 meters in width. Bridges, over the entire length of the wall and connecting 11 high towers and abutments, were used as secret passages during wartime.

• Qasr Darin
Qasr Darin (also known as Qasr Abdul Wahhab Pasha) is an impressive structure overlooking the Arabian Gulf. In 1884, the wealthy Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahhab Al Fayhani came to the area from Qatar and built the castle over settlements which date to the dawn of Islam. He traded in pearls, which were exported to many countries at that time.

• Fish Market
Qatif fishing port attracts catches from all ports of the Arabian Gulf. The Fish Market opens after sunset prayer and closes at 10:30 pm and it is the largest fish market in the region.

• Khamee's Market
Every Thursday morning, Qatif bustles with the transactions of Khamee's market, where stands are placed among regular stores and peddlers roam. A wide range of goods is available, with folkloric handicrafts, made during the week, displayed side-by-side modern imports.

Pre-History
Because of its strategic position, and because of its wealth of dates, palm-trees and pearls, the area was a favorable place for immigration. Also many emigrant waves originated from this area. Those emigrants included Caledonians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Hittites, and Phoenicians. The land of Qatif was inhabited since the Stone Age.
In the year 3000 B.C., there developed a state in Bahrain that was mentioned by the texts of the Assyrians, Acadians, and Sumerians. This state was subjected to the rule of the Acadians and the Babylonians. After the destruction of the Babylonians this state assumed full independence. In 1440 BC this state was destroyed after a stable period of 380 years. Assyrians ruled this land from 1000 BC till 600 BC.

The ancient and pre-Islamic era
• 600-560 BC.
Nabokhadnasr ruled the area.
• 560-520 BC.
Korus built the Persian Empire; he then invaded Iraq, Syria, and Egypt and the Persian Gulf.
• 562-485 BC.
Persians transfer trading to the Red sea, which destroyed the prosperous economy of the gulf. Darius, the king of the Persians, dug a canal linking the Red sea to the Nile.
• 331 BC.
The gulf is prosperous again after Alexander The Great had destroyed the Persian Empire. Alexander order a fleet to built to occupy the land of Bahrain, but his early death cancelled the project.
In this era, the region had enjoyed independence and prosperous economy. Al-Jerha –which was in the place of Today Qatif- became on the richest cities on Earth. The Greeks described it saying that they are the richest Arabs, and they are decorating their homes walls, roofs and doors with gold, silver and gems. Prosperity remained until the Romans had occupied the southern parts of Arabia (today’s Yemen) thus shifting the trade routes away from the gulf.
• 46 BC – 266 AD.
More Arabic tribes immigrated to the region. The tribes of Abdul-Quais were the dominant in the whole land of Bahrain.
• 266 AD.
Ardeshir Babek unifies Iran into a strong empire, which had polarized the world into two poles much like the cold war in this century. Arabian Iraq was under the control of the Persians while the Arabs of Syria and Palestine was under the rule of the Romans. Qatif had remained under the Persian control until the poet-king Amrou Al-Qais invaded it.
• 300 AD.
Troops from Yemen attack the Persians in the gulf and weakened the rule of the Persian Empire over the gulf. The people of Bahrain get independence and form an army that invaded the Iranian coast of the gulf.
• 370 AD.
Sabur the second, king of Persia, retaliates. He made an army that killed the Arabs in the Persian coast, cross the gulf and invaded Qatif and Hajjar (Al-Hasa), committing genocides there. He then pushed his armies deep in Arabia, killed who ever was in his way, and exiled whole tribes. The Persian rule continued till the era of Islam.

The Dawn of Islam
In the sixth year after Hijra -Hijra is when the prophet Mohammed moved to Medina in 622 AD- the prophet Mohammed sent Al-Ala Al-Hadhrami with a letter to Al-Mundhir bin Sawa, the ruler of Qatif and Bahrain who was appointed by the Persians. The Letter was to explain Islam and offers the people of Bahrain to convert to Islam. Al-Ala helped explaining Islam to Al-Mundhir who was convinced with the new religion and converted to Islam. He also asked his people to do so after explaining what is Islam. Most of the people chose to convert to Islam, but some remained as Christian, and Pagans and lived there unharmed and was not forced to do so. Since then, Bahrain joined the Islamic state. Al-Mundhir remained a ruler, and Bahrain came out of the Persian rule peacefully.
• 7 H.
A group of AbdulQais tribes (people of Bahrain –including Qatif) visits the prophet in Medina. The prophet said that they are the best people in the east; they entered Islam not by force but by convection.
• 9 H.
Al-Ala becomes the ruler of Bahrain after the death of Al-Mundhir.
• 10 H.
Another group from Bahrain visits the prophet.
• 11-40 H.
After the death of the prophet, many Arabic tribes revolted and rejected Islam and converted back to their previous religions, but the tribes of Bahrain remained Muslim. One tribe –Rabia- revolted in Bahrain and attacked Qatif and Hajar (Al-Hasa) and occupied them. Al-Ala came back with enforcements from Medina and liberated Bahrain except for the Al-Zara fort, which was liberated years after in the era of Caliph Omar bin Al-Khattab. In year 17 H., Al-Ala made a disastrous offensive against the Persians without consulting the central government in Medina, so Caliph Omar had him resigned. 23 H. After that the area lived in peace until Imam Ali, the fourth Caliph, was assassinated during prayer in year 40 H.

Era of the Ummayads and Kharijis
• 40-67 H.
Ummayads ruled Qatif, and the area never knew peace in that era. The people were the subject to the tyranny of the Umayyad rulers because of the people’s support for Imam Ali.
• 67 H.
Kharijis –who revolted against Imam Ali- invade Qatif and commit mass genocides.
• 72 H.
The ummayad Caliph Abdul-Malik bin Marwan defeates the kharijis and invade Bahrain.
• 86 H.
Kharijis invade Bahrain.
• 105 H.
Kharijis invade Al-Yemama in central Arabia, which provokes the Umayyads to fight. Ummayads won the war and get Bahrain back to the Ummayds’ rule.

The Era of the Abbasids
The Abbasids –descendants of Al-Abbas, uncle of the prophet- revolt against the Umayyads. Supported by most Islamic states they ended the ummayads dynasty in the entire Islamic world except Andalusia where AbdulRahman Al-Dakhil made a second ummayad state.
• 151 H.
Bahrain revolts, but Al-Mansour –the Abbasid caliph- puts out the rebellion and kills the civilians, women, and POWs.
• 191 H.
Haroun Al-Rashid puts out another revolt in Bahrain.
• 249 H.
State of Al-Zunj is established in Basra
• 254-270 H.
State of Al-Zunj distracts the attention of the Abbasids thus the people of Bahrain had a peaceful era.

State of Qurmutids
• 281-287 H.
A man named Yehya claiming to be a messenger from the Imam gets assistant form a rich man in Qatif named Al-Jenabi. They try to play on the religious feelings of the people to establish their independent rule. They were exposed in 283 H. Yehya was captured, but Al-Jenabi had escaped.
After he was released, Yehya went to the Bedouins and joined Al-Jenabi. They both used money to recruit the Bedouin tribes and formed a strong army that invaded Qatif and established the state of Qurmutis. Many of the people of Qatif escaped and joined the Abbasids’ army that was sent by Al-Mutadhid. The Qurmuties army defeated the Abbasids. In the same year the Qurmutis invaded Al-Hasa.
• 301 H.
Al-Jenabi was assassinated. A military council “Al-Agdaniya” ruled the state until Saed the son of Al-Jenabi reaches adulthood. Later on, Sulaiman the younger brother of Saed had overthrown his brother and became the ruler. He was recognized by “Al-Agdanya” and by the Fatmids –the rulers of Egypt, and enemies of the Abbasids.
• 314 H.
Sulaiman transfer the capital to Al-Hasa
• 315 H.
Sulaiman invades Oman and shows their brutality against all the people of Bahrain and Oman. The extended their brutality to the pilgrims. They attacked pilgrims to kill them and steal them.
• 317 H.
Qurmutids attack Mecca, kill the pilgrims, and steal the holy black stone from Kaaba and took it back to Qatif. The black stone remained there till year 339 H. Those wrongdoings had angered the fatimids so they withdraw their recognition and cancelled their alliance. The Abbasids used the situation to negotiate with Qurmutids and asked them to return the black stone and for mutual recognition with. The Qurmutids recognized the Abbasids and get in alliance with them but refused to return the black stone.
• 332 H.
Sulaiman dies and his brother Ahmed became the ruler. Ahmed returned the black stone in 339 H, which improved his relations with the Fatimids.
• 358 H.
Sabur, son of Sulaiman, makes a coup against his uncle, but a counter coup restores Ahmed to the throne.
• 360 H.
Relations with Fatimids worsen. Al-Asam, ruler of the Qurmutids joins the Abbasids in an offensive against the Fatimids. They succeded in capturing Syria from the Fatimids.
• 366 H.
Fatimids defeat the Qurmutids in a 6-year war. Al-Asam flees to Al-Ramla where he dies. In Bahrain the Qurmutids overthrow the family of Al-Jenabi and declare their loyality to the Fatimids.
• 375 H.
Qurmutids attack the Abbasids and capture Kufa, but the Abbasids liberate it.
378 H. Abbasids form an army of mercenaries and Bedouins. This army defeats the Qurmutids and shrink their influence to Al-Hasa only.
• 398 H.
Beacsue of the weakness of the Qurmutids, and the shortage of their income, their Bedouin allies revolt. Tribes of Thaalab –on the previous allies- capture Al-Hasa and destroy the state of the Qurmutids. They established their own state.
• 450 H.
Tribes of Akil destroys the rule of the Thaalabis.

State of Ayounids
• 466 H.
Abdullah Al-Ayouni establish the state of Ayounids in Al-Hasa. The Abbasids and the Turks assisted him.
• 500 H.
Al-Fadhl, son of Abdullah, transfers his capital to Qatif, then to Awal (today’s state of Bahrain). In his reign, the state extended to Kuwait.
• 513 H.
Capital is back to Qatif.
• 531 H.
Mohammed -son of AlFadhl- is assassinated. The state was divided into two, on in Al-Hasa and the other in Al-Qatif.
• 587 – 605 H.
Mohammed bin Abi Al-hussain unites Qatif and Al-Hasa. He restores the glory of the Ayounids, and extends the state to Najd -central Arabia-. The state was divided again after his assassination in 605 H.
• 640 H.
Conflicts inside the Ayounids family gave the chance to the tribes of Asfour to establish their state and destroy the state of Ayounids.
• 820 H.
Tribes of Jabr rules Al-Hasa and Al-Qatif.

The Portuguese
• 1506 AD (912 H.)
The Portuguese appears in the waters of the gulf. They invaded Hurmoz.
• 927 H.
The Portuguese capture Qatif and Bahrain. The built many forts, some of them is still exist today like the one in Tarut island.
• 1535 AD. (941 H.).
People of Qatif ask for the help of the Ottoman Sultan Sulaiman.
• 1550 AD
The Ottoman fleet defeats the Portuguese in Yemen and Oman. Qatifians revolt and gets the Portuguese out of Qatif by the time the Ottoman army reaches it. The Portuguese presence was still in Bahrain (Awal islands) and Hurmoz. They attacked Qatif and captured it. The Portuguese remained in the gulf until 1625 AD. In that year Shah Abbas, king of Iran, defeated the Portuguese and captured their last fort in Hurmoz. He was assisted by a new emerging power, the English.

The era of The Ottoman Turks
During the Turkish rule the area suffered from high taxes and corrupted government. The area was under a feudal system, where local rulers controlled everything and the Turks get the Taxes.
• 1073 H.
Tribes of Bany Khalid captures Qatif with the assistance of the governor of Basra. He invaded Al-Hasa in 1074 H.
• 1076 H.
The turks re-capture Qatif.
• 1080 H.
Bany Khalid tribes capture Qatif again.
• 1172 H.
Orayur the ruler of Bany Khalid attacks Al-Darea to destroy the Wahabis. The Wahabis protected by Mohammed ibn Saud defeated him.
• 1204 H.
The ruler of the Saudis, Abdulaziz, orders his son Saud to attack Al-Hasa. Saud captured al-Hasa and defeted Bany Khalid.
• 1206 H.
Saudi Army captures Qatif.
• 1207 H.
The Saudis destroy the state of Bany Khalid.
• 1211 H.
The Turkish governer of Basra Sulaiman Basha fails to capture Qatif and Al-Hasa.
• 1217 H.
Sauids raids southern Iraq.
• 1217 H.
Saudis occupy Al-Hijaz (today’s western Saudi Arabia)
• 1226-1228 H.
Ordered by the Turks, Mohammed Ali -the governor of Egypt- send an army led by his son Ahmed Toson to Hijaz. He failed to defeat the Saudis, but his second offensive in 1228 succeeded in defeating the Saudis
• 1233 H.
The armies of Mohammed Ali invade Najd and arrest the Family of Saud. They exiled them to Egypt. The continued and captured Qatif and appointed the tribe of Bany Khalid as rulers of Qatif. Later on the Egyptians doubted the intention of Bany Khalid and attacked Qatif again. They captured Qatif with the assistance of the English. Ruling Qatif, which was separated from Egypt by the deserts of Arabia, proved costly so the Egyptian armies withdraw leaving Bany Khalid tribe as rulers of Qatif.
• 1826-1824 AD (1242-1240 H)
The pirate Rahma forces Bany Khalid to pay tributes. Later, Bany Khalid allied with Al Khalifa –rulers of Bahrain- and destroyed the Pirates force.
• 1830 AD (1245 H).
The second Saudi State in Najd launch an offensive against Bany Khalid and captures Qatif. Saudis also defeated the pirates tribe Al-Amayer.
• 1859 AD (1274 H)
Abdullah Al-Mdawi, the Sauid ruler of Qatif tries to invade Bahrain, but the English fleet defeats him.
• 1866 AD.
The English fleet attack Qatif Port and destroys the ships.
• 1871 AD.
Midhat Basha, governor of Baghdad occupies Qatif and restores the Turkish rule. Qatif was annexed to the province of Basra.
• 1910 AD.
Qatif leaders reject a British offer of protection.

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
• 1913 AD.
The army of King Abdulaziz (Ibn Saud) occupies Al-Hasa and Al-Qatif, and the Turks weakened by the World War withdraw.
• 1914 AD.
Ottoman Turkey falls; it lost the World War I.
• 1915 AD.
Treaty of Qatif. King Abdulaziz and The british attachee Percy Cox agree to a treaty similar to the protection treaties signed with other gulf sheikdoms.
• 1927 AD.
Britain recognize the independence of King Abdulaziz as the King of Hejaz and Sultan of Najd and its satellites.
• 1932 AD, Sept. 22.
King Abdulziz unites the sultunate of Najd and kingdom of Hejaz into one unit. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was declared. This day was to be the Saudi national day.
• 1940 AD.
The capital of eastern province is transferred from Qatif to newly established Khobar.
• 1955 AD.
Dammam becomes the Capital of Eastern Province.
• 1975-1980 AD.
The rise of Oil price initiates an economical expansion, which transferred the kingdom from the middle age to the 20th century. Qatif and the rest of the kingdom’s cities became modern cities.
• 1992 AD.
The new system of districts makes Qatif oasis a district with Qatif City as its capital.