Despite the disrupted contact with their homeland, the Baluch in the U.A.E. have kept their ethnic and linguistic distinctions. The various Baluch groups speak different languages, each with distinguishing traits. These languages have been classified as Eastern, Western, or Southern Baluchi.

What Are Their Lives Like
The United Arab Emirates is a confederation of seven kingdoms, or emirates, which united in 1971. Located on the eastern Arabian peninsula, the emirates are linked by a common dependence on oil revenues. Most of the people of the U.A.E. are tribal Arabs who have lived in the region for centuries. Rivalries among the tribes have made it difficult to establish a unified nation. Before the mid-1900's, the region was one of the most underdeveloped in the world. However, with the discovery of oil in the late 1950's came sudden wealth, and modern industries and cities were developed. By the 1970's, the U.A.E. had one of the highest per capita incomes in the world.

The U.A.E. is 80% urbanized, and the Southern Baluch (7% of the population) have been able to find work as unskilled laborers, policemen, or fishermen. Other Baluch have joined the military. Still others labor in the oil fields and on the farms of the wealthy Gulf States. Although the Baluch work extremely hard, they are much better off than they were in Baluchistan, one of the poorest areas of the world. The Southern Baluch in the U.A.E. speak and dress much like Arabs, but they live in separate Baluch communities.

The traditional Baluch economy is based on a combination of farming and semi-nomadic herding. While survival techniques may vary, each community tries to keep a wide variety of animals and grows many different crops.

Baluchmayar is the honor code by which the Baluch live. Principles such as extending hospitality and mercy, dealing with one another honestly, and offering refuge to strangers are very important. These beliefs are preserved through both songs and poetry. Children learn how to behave by watching their elders and are teased if they misbehave.

What Are Their Belief?
Although the Baluch are a scattered people, they all follow Islam. Most are Sunni Muslims, but underneath their Islamic faith is a strong undercurrent of animism (belief that non-human objects have spirits). Prior to the coming of Islam, the Baluch were probably followers of Zoroastrianism, an ancient Persian religion. Because of the mixture of old religions with Islam, the Baluch tend to be less devout than the more orthodox Arabs.

What Are Their Needs?
Sunni Islam is the state religion of the U.A.E., but religious minorities have freedom of worship. However, no outreach to the unreached indigenous population is officially permitted. Both the urban educated and the rural illiterates have had little exposure to the Gospel. In addition, according to Islamic law, a Muslim who professes faith in Christ can be put to death. Perhaps that fact partially explains the small number of Baluch converts.

The New Testament is available in the Baluchi language. In addition, there is a missions agency currently working among them. However, if these tools are to produce lasting fruit, intercession must first tear down the strongholds that have blinded the Southern Baluch for so long.

• Ask the Lord to soften the hearts of the U.A.E.'s leaders to the preaching of the Gospel.
• Ask the Holy Spirit to grant wisdom and favor to the missions agency that is targeting the Southern Baluch.
• Pray that the Jesus film and Christian broadcasts will be made available to the Southern Baluch.
• Pray that Jesus will reveal Himself as Lord to the Southern Baluch.
• Pray that God will greatly multiply the efforts of the Southern Baluch believers as they share Christ with their friends and families.
• Take authority over the spiritual principalities and powers that have kept the Southern Baluch bound for many generations.
• Ask God to raise up intercessors who will stand in the gap for the Southern Baluch.
• Pray that strong local churches will be raised up among the Southern Baluch.

See also the following Baluch groups. The Southern Baluch of Oman, Pakistan, and Iran. The Western Baluch of Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Afganistan, and Iran; and the Eastern Baluch of Pakistan.

THE PEOPLE

• People name: Southern Baluch
• Country: United Arab Emirates
• Their language: Baluchi (Kechi)
• Population: (1990) 119,100
  (1995) 135,700
  (2000) 150,200
• Largest religion: Muslim (Sunni) 99.9%
• Christian: <1%
• Church members: 27
• Scriptures in their own language: New Testament
• Jesus Film in their own language: Available
• Christian broadcasts in their own language: None
• Mission agencies working among this people: 1
• Persons who have heard the Gospel: 17,700 (13%) Those evangelized by local Christians: 4,10 (3%)
  Those evangelized from the outside: 13,600 (10%)
• Persons who have never heard the Gospel: 118,000 (87%)

• Country: United Arab Emirates
• Population: (1990) 1,670,600
  (1995) 1,904,200
  (2000) 2,107,200
• Major peoples in size order: Gulf Arab 12.6%
  Malayali 11.3%
  Gulf Bedouin 9.4%
  Southern Baluch 7.1%
  Egyptian Arab 6.2%
• Major religions: Muslim 83.4%
  Christian 9.7%
  Hindu 4.7%
• Number of denominations: 17