"ملف 38/17 تخطيط حدود الساحل المتصالح ومناطق امتياز شركة امتيازات النفط المحدودة في الساحل المتصالح" [و‎‎٢‎٧] (٢٢٥/٥٤)

MINUTE. Dubai AUu Dh
Boundaty
!• Historical.
^Although, ■technically the onus of* proof of possesion of
territory is upon Uuhai as that state broke a ay from Abu
Dhabi, the historical position of the Dubai Shaikhdom is far
om clear, ^ven in 18?0, Dubai was regarded as an independ
-ent state for the purposes of the General treaty, which it
signed separately, if one accepts the onus of proof as bfe&ng
entirely on Dubai, it is doubtful whether that Shaikhdom
could really put forward a claim to any territory at all.
2. De facto possession
Lorimer gives the Jebel Ali as bei g in Dubai territ
-ory. and the general sort of impression seems to be that *.
the wells just south of this feature are the area through xk
which any frontier sho Id run. Abu Dhabi would claim up "to
and as far as the Jebel AliSs south weste n slope , although
this claim could no doubt be reduced.
3. On a previous occasion, during the Khor GhanhaHhah disput
both parties agreed'to Ras Hasian as the dividing mark on
the Coa st, but whereas Dubai wanted the line to run inland
in direction, Abu Dhabi claimed that it should
run due East from there.
4. Geographical Considerations.
Except for Ras Hasian, there appearsx to be no definite
feature which could form a dividing line. It is fortunate,
however, that the Oil Company suspect that two distinct
geological structures divide at about Ras Hasian. This might
mean that the oil on either side of a line drawn at right
angles to the coast through Ras Hasian might fall neatly
into the two respective Shaikhdoms.
5. Possible solutions.
jga&x (a) By considerin the ownership of wells south of the
Jebel Ali. This might lead to endless disputes, but is *
obviously the most direct method.
(b) By an arbitrary line through Ras Hasian at right angles
to the coast, which might prove the most satisfactory soluti
-on if all other means fail.
(c) By ® nsuiting the opinion of third parties. This would
gJOdcddy probably not give an impartial ruling.
/v.