[thackney]

I believe most of that area except for Bahrain was barren until the middle 20th century. I wonder what these cities are from?

You are mistaken.

They've unearthed artifacts in the United Arab Emirates dating back 100,000 years and implying that humans could have arrived on the Arabian Peninsula as early as 125,000 years ago

http://earthsky.org/human-world/new-timeline-for-first-early-human-exodus-out-of-africa

Umm an-Nar (Arabic for "Mother of fire") is the name given to a bronze age culture that existed from 2600-2000 BC in modern day United Arab Emirates and Northern Oman.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umm_an-Nar_Culture

The Sasanian Empire controlled this area before Islam started. From the 17th to 19th century the British called it the Pirate Coast from all the raiders. 19th and early 20th century had a large pearl industry in the now UAE.

[Cronos]

you are right -- I was mistaken.

Thank you for the links, I did not know about the two links you shared