Recent excavations at Tell Abraq in the United Arab Emirates have brought to light material dating to the third, second and first millennium BC which calls into question certain long-held views in the archaeology of the Gulf region, as well as some more recently published hypotheses. Using the material from Tell Abraq, a number of problems specifically related to trade between the Oman peninsula (ancient Magan) and her neighbours are discussed. The emerging picture is one of much greater continuity in Magan's external relations than had previously been thought.