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Al Aflaj Irrigation Systems



In traditional irrigation systems, Al Aflaj use underground tunnels to conduct water over long distances from an underground source to an underground basin that communities can access.

Aflaj is the plural form of Falaj, which can be translated as "split into parts" in classical Arabic. The falaj irrigation system effectively divided the water among all the inhabitants. In Oman, there are over 11,000 falaj systems. The most popular falaj systems are Falaj Al Khatmayn and Falaj Daris in Al Dakhliya, while the most reputable falaj systems are Falaj Al Jaylah in Sur, Falaj Ayn Al Kasfah in Rustaq, and Falaj Al Hamam in Bawshar in Sharqiyah.

As far back as 500 AD, the Aflaj Irrigation System was located in the regions of Dakhiliyah, Sharqiyah, and Batinah of Oman. However, they represent a system as old as 5000 years old originally known as Khariz or Qanat in Persia.

Al Aflaj is a source of pride for the associated communities, because of the oral traditions and skills associated with its construction, maintenance, and equitable water distribution. The water flows from a gradual gradient to flatlands, while the underground tunnels reduce the water's evaporation.

Al Aflaj also includes a network of surface channels that distribute water to local farms. This system is dependent on inherited knowledge and practices about nature and the universe. It relies on traditional skills of looking for water sources based on the vegetation and other indicators, as well as drilling skills to maintain the irrigation system and ensure its equitable distribution.

Al Aflaj community members contribute to the maintenance of Al Aflaj and clearing the tunnels of mud; their knowledge and experience have been passed down for 3,000 years. It also involves instruction and shared experiences, as well as field trips for students. Al Aflajs have served to provide drinkable water for humans and animals for centuries, as well as to irrigate farms in an arid environment, demonstrating the community's creativity in the face of drought and desert conditions.

Moreover, there are many other Aflaj systems in the Al Ain oasis, one of the biggest oases in the UAE. The Iron Age Aflaj is found in Al Ain's Hili, Jebeeb, Bida bin Saoud, Thugaiban and Al Madam areas. Sheikh Zayed, as a governor in Al Ain in 1946, restored and renovated the Falaj system as well as other water resources, which helped contribute to the agricultural boom in Al Ain.


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