Hawar Islands

The Hawar Islands (Arabic: جزر حوار‎; transliterated: Juzur Ḩawār) are a group of islands situated off the west coast of Qatar in the Gulf of Bahrain of the Persian Gulf.

Despite their proximity to Qatar (Suwād al Janūbīyah is only 1.4 km from the Qatari mainland at the peninsula of Ras Abruq, while Rubud Al Gharbiyah, the island closest to the main island of Bahrain, lies at a distance of 19.7 km to it), the islands belong to Bahrain but were the subject of a dispute between Bahrain and Qatar. A Hawari separatist movement exists in Europe but there is little evidence of support for their movement in the Hawar Islands. The islands were formerly coincident with municipality or Minţaqat Juzur Ḩawār (مِنْطَقَة جُزُر حَوَار) and are now administered as part of the Southern Governorate of Bahrain. The area is 50.6 km². At the census of 2001, the population numbered 3,875.

In 2002, Bahrain applied to have the Hawar islands recognised as a World Heritage Site, due to its unique environment and habitat for endangered species. This site is home to many wildlife species and a very interesting place for birdwatchers and divers. Hawar Islands used to be one of the settlements of the Bahraini branch of the Dawasir who settled there in the early 19th century and on the main island of Bahrain in 1845 in the areas of Zallaq and Budaiya.

List of Islands

By far the largest island is Hawar. Following in size are Suwād al Janūbīyah, Suwād ash Shamālīyah, Rubud Al Sharqiyah, Rubud Al Gharbiyah and Muhazwarah (Umm Hazwarah).

Name	Arabic	Area km²	Coordinates	Max Height (meters)	Characteristics
Hawar	جَزِيرَة حَوَار	40	25°39′19″N 50°44′58″E / 25.65528°N 50.74944°E / 25.65528; 50.74944 (Hawar)	22.0	Continuous beach ridge complex west coast, sloping bedrock rising west to east. Complex bay and cliff formations east coast fronted in places by subqa, Jebel and terminals of east lower headlands aeolian formations calcified reef structures and algal mats.
Rubud Al Gharbiyah	رَبَض اَلْغَرْبِيَّة	0.7	25°45′07″N 50°45′58″E / 25.75194°N 50.76611°E / 25.75194; 50.76611 (Rubud Al Gharbiyah)	1.0	Sand and shingle accumulations, subqa and encrusted flats, storm beach north and west, mudflats, shoals and shallow lagoons south and east. Islands off exposed beach rocks & vegetated islets.
Rubud Al Sharqiyah	رَبَض اَلشَّرْقِيَّة	1.7	25°45′03″N 50°46′54″E / 25.75083°N 50.78167°E / 25.75083; 50.78167 (Rubud Al Sharqiyah)	0.8	Sand and shingle accumulations, subqa and salt encrusted flats, storm beach north and northeast, mudflats, shoals and shallow lagoons south and east large areas of beach rock and reef. Islands off exposed beach rocks & vegetated islets.
Ajirah	جَزِيرَة عَجِيرَة	0.02	25°44′24″N 50°49′24″E / 25.74°N 50.82333°E / 25.74; 50.82333 (Ajirah)	7.0	Rock (exposed strata), undercut cliffs and areas of beach rock and reefs. Single marine terrace with sand spit southwest sand and shingle accumulations behind.
Al Hajiyat (group)		0.13	25°42′00″N 50°48′00″E / 25.7°N 50.8°E / 25.7; 50.8 (Al Hajiyat)	7.5	Rock (exposed strata), undercut cliffs terraced, small sand or shingle beaches, reefs.
Muhazwarah (Umm Hazwarah)		0.4	25°40′00″N 50°47′00″E / 25.6666667°N 50.7833333°E / 25.6666667; 50.7833333 (Muhazwarah)	12.5	Rock (exposed strata), undercut cliffs, small sand or shingle beaches, raised marine terraces with sand spit southern aspect sand accumulations behind. Centre open wadi with rim rocks.
Jazīrat Jinān	جَزِيرَة جَنَان	.	25°33′29″N 50°44′06″E / 25.55806°N 50.735°E / 25.55806; 50.735 (Jazīrat Jinān)	.
Umm Jinni	.		25°40′31″N 50°47′05″E / 25.67528°N 50.78472°E / 25.67528; 50.78472 (Umm Jinni)	0.5	Sand and shingle accumulations with areas of beach rock shoals and shallow lagoons surrounding.
Bū Sadād (group)	جُزُر بُو سَدَاد	0.16	25°37′31″N 50°46′37″E / 25.62528°N 50.77694°E / 25.62528; 50.77694 (Bū Sadād)	2.0	Sand and shingle accumulations with areas of beach rock, shoals and shallow lagoons surrounding. Storm beaches northern aspects. Islands off ‑ various with mud sand and exposed rocky vegetated islets.
al Wukūr (group)	جُزُراَلْوُكُور	0.02	25°39′13″N 50°48′54″E / 25.65361°N 50.815°E / 25.65361; 50.815 (al Wukūr)	10.0	Isolated sea stacks with shingle beaches with surrounding shallow lagoon.
Suwād ash Shamālīyah	سُوَاد اَلشَّمَالِيَّة	3	25°40′29″N 50°48′36″E / 25.67472°N 50.81°E / 25.67472; 50.81 (Suwād ash Shamālīyah)	3.0	Sand and shingle accumulations, subqa and salt encrusted flats, areas of beach rock to north, shoals and shallow to south and southeast, wind blown sand, beaches.
Suwād al Janūbīyah	سُوَاد اَلْجَنُوبِيَّة	5	25°38′33″N 50°47′59″E / 25.6425°N 50.79972°E / 25.6425; 50.79972 (Suwād al Janūbīyah)	4.0	Sand and shingle accumulations, subqa and salt encrusted flats with areas of exposed surface rock, beach rock to the north. Mud, shoals and shallow to south, blown sand beaches.
Bu Tammur (group)		0.04	25°37′00″N 50°47′00″E / 25.6166667°N 50.7833333°E / 25.6166667; 50.7833333 (Bu Tammur)	1.5	Isolated undercut heavily fossiled rock platforms.
Umm Kharūrah	أُمّ خَرُورَة	.	25°39′46″N 50°46′28″E / 25.66278°N 50.77444°E / 25.66278; 50.77444 (Umm Kharūrah)

External links

• WHS application
• International Court of Justice decision on the Hawar dispute (2001)
• Hawar-Islands.com
• a detailed map and a short history of the sovereignty issues

Coordinates: 25°39′N 50°47′E / 25.65°N 50.783°E / 25.65; 50.783