Al-Balushi (Arabic: البلوشي; alternatively Baloushi, Balooshi, Bloushi, Blushi or Blooshi) is a tribal surname common in the Persian Gulf region, particularly Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. It is a nisba and is Arabized from the term Balochi,[a] denoting someone who has Baloch ancestry.[1] People carrying this surname trace their tribal origins to Balochistan, a region in south Iran and Pakistan located across the Persian Gulf.[1] Their ancestors predominantly came from the Makran coast in the 19th century.[1] The Al Balushi speak Arabic, while some also use Balochi or Persian. They are mainly Sunni Muslims.[1] They are a populous tribe in Oman, the UAE and Bahrain.[2]