The authors wish to acknowledge the contributions of the writers of the 1984 edition of Persian Gulf States: Country Studies, edited by Richard F. Nyrop. Their work provided general background for the present volume.
The authors are grateful to individuals in various government agencies and private institutions who gave of their time, research materials, and expertise in the production of this book. These individuals included Ralph K. Benesch, who oversees the Country Studies/Area Handbook Program for the Department of the Army. The authors also wish to thank members of the Federal Research Division staff who contributed directly to the preparation of the manuscript. These people included Sandra W. Meditz, who reviewed all graphic and textual material and served as liaison with the sponsoring agency; Marilyn L. Majeska, who supervised editing; Andrea T. Merrill, who managed book production; Ramón Miró, who assisted with bibliographic research and other aspects; Barbara Edgerton and Izella Watson, who did the word processing; and Steven Cranton, who prepared the cameraready copy. Also involved in preparing the text were Sheila L. Ross, who edited the chapters and performed the prepublication editorial review, and Joan C. Cook, who compiled the Index. Special thanks are due Eric Hooglund, who kindly served as reader for the book as a whole.
Graphics were prepared by David P. Cabitto. Tim Merrill prepared map drafts, and David P. Cabitto and the firm of Greenhorne and O'Mara prepared the final versions. Special thanks are owed to Marty Ittner, who prepared the illustrations on the title page of each chapter, and to Wayne Horne, who did the cover art.
Finally, the authors acknowledge the generosity of individuals and public and private agencies, especially the embassies of the countries concerned, who allowed their photographs to be used in this study.
Data as of January 1993