Muneera Qefel Alshemari

Head, Unit for the History of Eastern Saudi Arabia and the Arabian Gulf

Dr Munira bint Qifl Al-Shammari heads the Unit for the History of Eastern Saudi Arabia and the Arabian Gulf. The unit studies the history of the Eastern Province and its Gulf extension, documenting its sources, records and oral accounts. The region holds a distinct place in the Peninsula's history for its coastal position, its old trading links and the discovery of oil there. Her research interests include the history of the coastal towns and their crafts, among them pearl diving, and the transformations brought by the oil boom and their effect on social structure.