The Banu Kaÿb () Singular Kaabi (Arabic: çÃÂÃÂùèÃÂ) are a nomadic Arab tribe which originated in the Najd region of the Arabian Peninsula, and inhabit Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, and Iran (Khuzestan). They often raided, then settled various areas of southern and central Ottoman Iraq, in cities such as Basra and Nasiriyah, and also across the border in modern-day Khuzestan province in Iran, particularly near the city of Al-Muhammarah. From the early 18th century onwards, the Banu Kaÿb of Iraq began converting from Sunni to Shia Islam. Other branches of the Bani Kaÿb settled in Oman, the United Arab Emirates, and Morocco. The Banu Ka'b of Oman, Qatar and the UAE practice Sunni Islam while the Banu Ka'b of Iraq practice Shia Islam.
In the mid-eighteenth century, the Banu Kaÿb had a strong navy, and sometimes attacked British ships, and fought either for or against the Ottoman Empire and Qajar Iran. In 1812, the Emirate of Muhammara emerged as an autonomous emirate under the Banu Kaÿb. The Banu Kaÿb had their tribal flag as a yellow or red flag with tribe and branch sayings.
They also had a skirmish with the naval force of the Sheikhdom of Kuwait from Riqqa. Sheikh Barakat of the Banu Kaÿb asked for the hand of a Kuwait sheikh's daughter in marriage and the sheikh refused; that infuriated Sheikh Barakat and caused him to attack Kuwait. However, his ships got stuck in the sand because of the shallow water. In this skirmish no one died however the Kuwaitis technically won because they salvaged what they could from Banu Kaÿb's stuck ships. Sheikh Barakat tried to muster more men to attack Kuwait but the people killed him for his incompetence and for his willingness to risk the lives of his tribesmen for something trivial.
Kaab bin RabiâÂÂah bin Aamer bin SaâÂÂsaâÂÂah bin MuâÂÂawiyah bin Bakr bin Hawazin bin Mansour bin Ikrimah bin Khasfa bin Qais Ailan bin Mudar bin Nizar bin MaâÂÂad bin Adnan.
There were several reasons that led to the migration of Banu KaâÂÂb from Al-Aflaj in the sixth century AH, the most important of which are:
The Banu KaâÂÂb tribe migrated from the Najd region, and some of them went to Iraq, and their last king was Khazal Al-Kaabi, who was betrayed by the Persian ruler in the year (1343 AH / 1925 AD), northern Morocco (Tunisia) and to the mountains of Oman. The tribe is present in the State of Qatar and Bahrain (and they are called Al-Kaaban), and their origins go back to Banu KaâÂÂb who are present in the mountains of Oman.
Among the tribe's members are: