British Influence and Interests in the Gulf and Southern Arabia between 1798 and 1853 in the Light of Muhammad Ali’s Campaigns

Abstract This study1 follows the development of British influence in the Arabian Gulf on the one hand and southern Yemen and Arabia on the other hand, during the first half of the 19th century, in the light of Muhammad Ali Pasha’s campaigns against Arabia. These campaigns took place during the first part of his rule when he was subservient to the Ottoman state (1805–1830, and during the second period of his rule when he acted independently of Ottoman control, from 1831 to 1840), during which time his control extended to encompass most of the Arab East. The thesis of the article uncovers the complex equation relating to the intersection of political and strategic interests between the goals of Britain and Muhammad Ali. It then elucidates the extent of the effects of this dangerous intersection on the Arabian Peninsula and the Arab East. The study utilizes British, Ottoman, and Egyptian sources and documents, in addition to Arab and non-Arab secondary sources.