Pearl diving industry in Dubai

The pearl diving industry was once known as the driving force of the UAE economy. This industry contributed greatly to the livelihood of the UAE and was the main occupation of most people. Although this industry collapsed in the early 1900s, the traces of this historical golden period still remain in the hearts of the people of the country.

Pearl diving has been a mainstay of the economy in the UAE, and the money earned from this occupation circulates in the market, benefiting both the divers and other residents of the UAE. Abdullah al-Suwaidi, the founder of Marwarid Suwaidi, states that at the beginning of each pearling season, wealthy families in the region would give advance loans to captains. 

They used the money to maintain their boats and buy supplies for the crew. In exchange for this favor, they would offer them the pearls they had collected. However, captains who did not owe anyone would sell their pearls to a professional pearl merchant. After some time, the UAE's pearl ecosystem attracted the attention of divers from Yemen, followed by India, Iran and other Arab countries (who came to Dubai to trade spices, textiles and rice). Finally, Arab and Indian traders considered Dubai as the main suppliers of this industry. Bombay became the world's largest pearl market. 

The stones were polished and sent from Bombay to Europe, Iran, Iraq and Türkiye. Those intrepid local merchants who wanted to save on brokerage fees by trading with India sought British, French and American buyers. The reason is that they are constantly coming from the markets of Dubai and Abu Dhabi they were buying.

The two largest cities of the United Arab Emirates - Dubai and Abu Dhabi - have been a thriving pearl industry in the country, and since pearling centers were located in these cities, they were constant destinations for pearl divers. To save travel time, they moved with their families to these coastal cities and lived there. It didn't take long for others to follow suit and the population in these two cities grew. 

UAE pearls were in high demand all over the world. They were traded as far as India, Sri Lanka, Venice and Scandinavia. Prominent brands like Cartier became famous by using these pearls because of their credibility and quality. Dubai's popular museum displays pearl diving artefacts that feature a natural view of pearl divers. The Pearl Museum also has the largest exclusive collection of Arabian Gulf pearls by Sultan bin Ali Al Owais, a descendant of pearl divers in the UAE. He donated his collection to this museum to pay tribute to all the pearl divers of the country.

Pearl diving is usually done between June and September. Although the weather was hot, it was generally clear and calm, providing ideal conditions for diving. Therefore, because at this time the sea water was warm and therefore divers easily went to the depths of the sea to search for pearls. There were also smaller one-month periods in October and November when pearl fishing could be done. Pearl divers in the UAE used special tools in the process of collecting pearls. Dyeen, which was a woven bag, was used to collect oysters. Fattam, a clip made of turtle shell, was used to collect pearls, and a rope called Yeda was used to tie the diver to the boat. On the first day, the crew was sent off with a ceremony called "Harat" (Mussel Bed) held on the beach. 

The families of the ship's crew and other townspeople would leave the shore to bid them farewell, and the most senior captain in the fleet would officially announce the beginning of the pearling season. On the last day of Ghouth al-Kabir, a cannon was fired from the beach to mark the imminent return of the divers, and this signaled families to prepare for the arrival of their spouses. People decorated their houses with cloth flags called Bairaq or Bandira and prepared special foods such as sweets, fruit juice and nuts. As the pearling ships anchored on the sands, songs of welcome were played and the crew responded by playing songs. Depending on the size of the ship, the crew could be up to 30 people, most of whom were men, but sometimes boys and girls accompanied them. 

Among the most important members of the crew were:

Nukhad: The owner of the boat or a manager on behalf of the owner who managed the entire pearling operation. He divided the profits of each season among the crew members.

Sardel: The captain of the fleet who was an expert sailor and knew the best places of surprise (shell bed).

Divers: These men did the hardest work, working in dangerous conditions, diving all day to find and collect oysters.

Sib: The man in charge of the ropes lowers the divers onto the oyster beds and pulls them up after they are ready to climb.

Tabab: boys aged 10 to 14, mostly crew boys, who helped Sib pull up the divers.

Rida: Young boys who served food and tea to the divers and helped open the shells.

Naham: A man with a beautiful voice who provided entertainment with songs and poetry during the long months at sea.

At the time of pearl fishing, a ship was used to transport divers and other important crew to the locations designated for this activity. The sailing ship also had an "al-Saeb" on board, a sailor whose job it was to pull divers to the surface. Divers had to tie a small stone to the bottom of their feet to keep their balance while searching for oysters on the seabed. Divers were always in danger of drowning or being attacked by an aggressive sea creature. Captain Mohammed Khalifa Bin Al-Thali of Dubai Ports, the man who compiled the list of pearl diving sites, stated that there are eight places in the Persian Gulf where pearls can be farmed. Now these areas are immersed in oil fields that are not easy to access. 

Ancient practices such as plugging the nose with turtle clips, protecting the ears with earwax, maintaining communal space, and consuming coffee and dates before diving have been an integral part of pearling.

The Persian Gulf pearl industry began to decline in the 1920s. It declined further in the late 1920s and early 1930s. By then, the Japanese had found a way to make flawless artificial pearls. This was the main reason for the decline of the pearl industry. The onset of the Great Recession and the declining returns of pearl banks also added to the loss of business for pearl divers in the UAE. 

The pearls of the United Arab Emirates are still remembered and valued all over the world. Its role in defining the history of Dubai can be emphasized. The historical narrative of Abu Dhabi is not complete without mentioning the once prosperous pearl industry of this city.