Bastak

Bastak () is a city in the Central District of Bastak County, Hormozgan province, Iran, serving as capital of both the county and the district. Bastak was traditionally part of the region of Irahistan.

Demographics

Population

At the time of the 2006 National Census, the city's population was 8,376 individuals in 1,765 households. The following census in 2011 counted 9,225 people in 2,133 households. The 2016 census measured the population of the city as 9,959 people in 2,661 households.

* Bastakis were historically involved in trade, shipping, and pearl diving.
* The town was part of the cultural and economic sphere that included Bandar Abbas, Lengeh, Qeshm, and extended across the Persian Gulf to Dubai, Sharjah, and Bahrain.

* Known for being merchants, scholars, and traders in textiles, spices, and other commodities.

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Migration to the UAE (19th–20th Century)

Reasons for Migration:

# Economic Opportunity: The Persian Gulf ports in the UAE were growing rapidly in trade and offered more freedom for Sunni Muslims.
# Religious & Social Pressure: As a Sunni minority in Shia-dominant Iran, some Bastakis faced marginalization or lacked representation.
# British Influence: The British had more influence in the Trucial States (now UAE), offering stability and commercial advantage.
# Droughts and Hardship: Environmental and economic stress pushed people to seek better opportunities.

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Legacy in the UAE

* Bastakiya in Dubai: Originally settled by Bastaki merchants in the late 1800s. The area was later restored and is now a cultural and tourist heritage site.
* Bastakis became influential in business, real estate, and religious scholarship in Dubai and other Emirates.
* Some prominent Emirati families today trace their roots back to Bastak.

See also

*Achomi people
*Evaz

References

External links

Kookherd Website

Cities in Hormozgan province

Populated places in Bastak County

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