Dhaid, orAl Dhaid, is the capital of the central district of theEmirateofSharjahin theUnited Arab Emirates. An oasis town, it has extensive irrigated date palm plantations with water channeled from the nearby Hajar mountains at least in part through ancient tunnels dug for that purpose, known asaflajin Arabic (falaj in the singular).
Dhaid has long occupied a strategic location in the mouth of the important Wadi Siji. At the turn of the 20th Century, Dhaid consisted of some 140 houses, owned by sections of the Tanaij, Bani Qitab and Khawatir tribes, including larger houses with mud brick towers. It also had a four-toweredAl Qasimifort.
