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Publication of “Travels in Arabia” (Journey to Arabia) by William Gifford Palgrave / in two volumes
Translated and annotated by Dr. Ahmad Oweidi Al-Abbadi
Published by Al-Ahliyya for Publishing and Distribution
Amman, Jordan – Al-Ahliyya for Publishing and Distribution has recently released the book “Travels in Arabia”—the original title of the renowned nineteenth-century travel account by the British explorer William Gifford Palgrave—presented in Arabic under the title “Journey to Arabia”, in a meticulously translated, annotated, and critically edited edition by the historian أحمد عويدي العبادي) Dr. Ahmad Oweidi Al-Abbadi (.
This scholarly publication reintroduces one of the most significant European narratives on the Arabian Peninsula in the nineteenth century, restoring its historical depth while situating it within a contemporary Arab analytical framework.
Palgrave’s journey dates to 1862–1863, during which he undertook an extensive and daring expedition into the interior of the Arabian Peninsula, traveling in disguise as an Arab. This enabled him to access regions that were largely inaccessible to Europeans at the time, allowing him to document detailed field observations encompassing political, social, and economic dimensions.
The journey began along the Arabian Gulf coast, then moved through eastern Arabia, penetrating into the heart of Najd, before extending northward toward the frontiers of the Levant. Along this route, Palgrave provided a remarkably detailed account of Arabian society, addressing key dimensions such as:
Tribal and social organization
Systems of governance and local administration
Economic structures, trade dynamics, and caravan routes
Customs, traditions, and patterns of daily life
His observations covered several major emirates and political entities of the period, including:
The Emirate of Najd, under Imam Faisal bin Turki Al Saud, a central political authority in the Arabian interior.
The Eastern Arabian Gulf regions, including Bahrain, Qatif, and Al-Ahsa, characterized by overlapping influence between the Second Saudi State and Ottoman authority, alongside local tribal leadership.
Al-Ahsa and Qatif, whose shifting political control reflects the strategic and economic importance of the region.
The Emirate of Jabal Shammar (Ha’il), where Palgrave reached Ha’il during the rule of Emir Talal bin Abdullah Al Rashid, offering a valuable account of this rising power that rivaled Najd.
Northern Arabian regions, connected to long-established trade networks linking the Peninsula with the Levant.
This edition is distinguished by its rigorous scholarly apparatus. Dr. Al-Abbadi provides a deep analytical interpretation that bridges the travel narrative with broader Jordanian and Arab historical contexts, critically reassessing orientalist perspectives and reframing the material within an authentic Arab civilizational vision.
The publication forms part of Dr. Al-Abbadi’s broader independent intellectual project, which seeks to revisit foreign sources not as neutral descriptions, but as historical texts requiring critical deconstruction and reinterpretation. This approach contributes to a more grounded understanding of the historical and political identity of the Arabian Peninsula and its wider surroundings, including Jordan within its civilizational continuum.
This work stands as a significant addition to the Arabic scholarly library, combining high documentary value with profound analytical insight, and reviving a classical travel text within a modern academic framework.
It also joins a substantial body of translations and scholarly works produced by Dr. Al-Abbadi—exceeding thirty books over four decades—while forming part of a distinguished series published by Al-Ahliyya in Amman, dedicated to Jordan and its history, within his broader endeavor to construct an authentic Arab historical narrative.