This super well timed and beneficial prepared reference will familiarize all scholars and readers with the Gulf zone and Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Dubai, the UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Yemen, and Qatar. those states are certain by way of the wasteland tradition, the Gulf, new oil economic system, and Islam, to call a few commonalities. so much american citizens recognize anything in regards to the zone, corresponding to oases, dates, camels, oil, Bedouin tribes, and the legends of Lawrence of Arabia to Osama bin encumbered. Islamic ideas and practices are nonetheless unusual. On one severe, Saudi Arabia, the cradle of Islam, has been principally closed off to Western travelers. at the different severe, Dubai courts vacationer money because it constructs smooth architectural showcases. this can be the 1st A-Z encyclopedia to target the Gulf, illuminating the land, humans, faith, tradition and traditions, associations, economic system, and masses extra for basic readers. The greater than two hundred essay entries have a present concentration with old context as necessary.

The breadth of assurance implies that this source can be of use for quite a lot of researchers and browsers. in addition to person entries on every one kingdom, significant towns and areas also are profiled. The typical setting and human variation to it gets major house. Islamic customs and ideas and numerous interpretations are in actual fact defined. Essays on subject matters corresponding to key public figures, associations, significant occasions, politics, and kingdom structures—some in accordance with resources usually now not to be had in English—make this two-volume set the first-choice source for exact details. feedback for additional interpreting accompany such a lot entries; a chronology, chosen bibliography, and pictures additionally supplement the text.