Traditionally the largest tribal grouping in Abu Dhabi, the Bani Yas are first alluded to in Gasparo Balbi's list of placenames on the Emirates coast from 1580 which mentions Sirbeniast, i.e. the island of Sir Bani Yas. This confirms their presence in coastal Abu Dhabi by the late sixteenth century. The Bani Yas are mentioned about 50-60 years later in the Kashf al-Gummah. In a passage describing events which must have occurred between 1633 and 1648, we read that Nasr bin Qahtan entered the fort of al-Dhafrah with the assistance of the Bani Yas, a reference which may relate to the archaeological site at Mantiqa al-Sirra in the Abu Dhabi desert.

The foundation of Abu Dhabi town around 1761 as a result of the discovery of water on Abu Dhabi island led to the growth of a major Bani Yas settlement on the coast but elements of the Bani Yas population extend all the way from the coast of Qatar in the west to Dubai in the east and inland to the Liwa oasis belt.