 The early Ottomans preserved the imarat al @-@ arab at least during the 16th century , during which the title was referred to as amir ʿarab @-@ i <unk> . However , the rights and role of the amir al @-@ arab and his status in the Ottoman administration in Ottoman Syria are not well @-@ defined in the contemporary sources , according to historian Muhammad Adnan Bakhit . The provincial records of Damascus Eyalet ( Province of Damascus ) , whose jurisdiction extended throughout Syria until the mid @-@ 16th century , do not mention the emirate 's function . Moreover , Bakhit asserts that it is unclear if the sultan 's ratification was required for the Bedouin tribes or the provincial government to recognize the amir al @-@ arab . 
