Omani Arabs in the Persian Gulf during the Reign of Shah Sultan Hussein Safavi

Since ancient times world major waterways have drawn the attention of various rulers who have attempted to conquer them as a means to establishing relations with neighboring lands. One of these strategic regions is the Persian Gulf that has always drawn the attention of regional and extra-regional governments. During the Safavid Empire the region attracted even more attention. In this era, apart from the world powers and their quests for domination in the Persian Gulf, local powers sought to spread their influence and exert control over the coasts and ports of the Persian Gulf and expand trade in this area. It was under the Safavids that rivalry between world and local powers erupted. Among local powers was the Omani Arabs who, being aware of Safavid internal weakness and at the same time as the Safavid approached their end, sought to dominate the ports, coastlines and trade in the region. Omani Arab’s increasing power and influence in the Persian Gulf region not only diminished commercial activities, but also brought about the demise of the Safavid maritime trade by disrupting trade routes from south to Isfahan and affecting Iranian trade with its neighbors to the north and north-east.