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Al-Balushi (Arabic: البلوشي; alternatively Baloushi, Balooshi, Bloushi or Blooshi)[2] is a tribal surname common in the Arab states of the Persian Gulf (predominantly Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar). The surname is an Arabized form of the term Balochi or Baluchi[a], typically denoting Baloch ancestry from Balochistan.[3]
Many people carrying this surname trace their ancestral origins to Balochistan — a region in southwestern Pakistan and southeastern Iran — located across the Persian Gulf.[4] Their ancestors primarily came from the Makran coast. The majority of them speak Arabic, while some retain their native Balochi language.[3] They are mainly Sunni Muslims.
Oman is home to one of the largest Al-Balushi populations outside Pakistan and Iran. It is estimated that Al-Balushis make up 35% of its population.[5]
The presence of Al-Balushis in Oman dates back centuries, rooted in the connection between Makran (present-day Pakistan) and Oman. These regions shared economic and political ties, particularly through Gwadar Port, which historically served as a crucial link between Arabia, South Asia, and colonial European powers.[6]
Gwadar was under Omani rule for nearly two centuries, initially governed by Sultan bin Ahmad and later remaining part of the Omani Sultanate, until 1958. That year, Sultan Said bin Taimur sold the territory to Pakistan for $3 million, officially transferring control of Gwadar.[7]
Notable people with this surname include:
Some tribes trace roots to other ethnic groups. Among the most important of these are the Baluch (or in Arabic, the Al Balooshi). Their ancestors came from the Baluchistan district split between Iran and Pakistan in the late 19th century.
