Al Dhafra in the Memorandum of the British Government Representative in 1955

The Abu Dhabi ruler’s authority extends from Dubai’s borders with Sharjah to Khawr al Udayd, which consists of coastal areas, islands, and desert lands. It has a large oasis named Liwa.

This area’s most notable lands are those that are populated, namely: Abu Dhabi, Dalma Island, and Liwa.

The area has been under the Abu Dhabi ruler’s for over 150 years, including Al Dhafra and Liwa, as it was – and still is – the home of Bani Yas, Abu Dhabi’s main tribe, for over two centuries.

The Trucial Coasts consist of three tribes: Bani Yas, the Manasir, and the Awamer, which don’t all share a common lifestyle. Some dive for pearls and others spend a part of the year in the palm groves or on the coast, grazing their camels. 

Al Dhafra extends from Sabkhat Matti and Al Khatam, and from the coast to the Rub' al Khali.
 
It is divided as follows:
Taf Bainona, Al Taf, Liwa, Al Batana, Al Qifa, Al Sarooq, Al Kadan, Al Bateen, and Ramlat Al Hamra.

Abu Dhabi’s city and island, Dalma and coastal islands, Liwa, and Al Buraimi all have a steady number of urban populations.

In certain seasons, many Bedouins or semi-Bedouin tribes join them by migrating to the coast and the islands for pearl diving or to Liwa and Al Buraimi for date picking. They spend the winters there, grazing their camels.