Pearl diving usually occurred between June and September. There are many facts about the history of pearl diving that will offer you an unprecedented glimpse to the region’s past. But the most complex process of all was the pearl diving voyage, which lasted four months in the midst of summer. Captain Mohammad Khalifa Bin Thalith from Dubai Ports, the man who put together a list of pearl diving sites stated that the Arabian Gulf was home to as many eight sites where pearling was possible. The Pearl Museum also features the largest exclusive collection of Arabian Gulf pearls by Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais, a descendent of pearl divers in the UAE. There were same season for pearl diving and it toke about three months and above of pearling. In many unfortunate cases divers drowned or were even attacked by sharks. The history of the maritime life of the UAE, and specially Sharjah, including shipbuilding, pearl diving and pearl trade, navigational devices, etc. Pearl diving: UAE's hidden gem. It further declined by the late 1920s and early 1930s. Pearl diving became, and is still considered, one of the UAE’s most treasured traditions. They were traded all the way to India, Srilanka, Venice and Scandinavia. While pearl diving today remains a reflection of what many consider the historical golden age of the UAE, the traditions that sprang from the abundance of pearls remain ingrained in the local culture to this day. Outsiders however, were forbidden to dive for pearls without the approval of local rulers. Well before the money from the oil boom, the UAE was thriving off of the money made from the pearls. Other monuments that pay tribute to the rich history of pearling in the UAE are: Let’s dig deeper and find more about the tradition of pearl diving in the UAE. The pearls of the UAE were one of the most sought-after accessories of the time. Let’s find out more about the history of pearl diving in the UAE. Ras Al Khaimah’s Pearl Roundabout 2. Stones were polished and dispatched from Mumbai to Europe, Iran, Iraq and Turkey. Soon others followed suit, and these destinations became home to many! Being home to pearling sites, they were regular destinations for pearl divers. In fact, in 1912, Jacques Cartier embarked on his first journey to the region to search for pearls. There are still many oysters to be found. Its role in defining the history of Dubai cannot be stressed enough. Soon, the pearling ecosystem of the UAE piqued the attention of divers from Yemen followed by India, Iran and other Arab countries when they came to Dubai to trade spices, textiles and rice. For many centuries before the discovery of oil, pearl diving was an important occupation and the mainstay of local economies. UAE’s pearls were in great demand across the world. The water was warm so it was easier for divers to go deep into the sea in the quest for pearls. 6 FACTS ABOUT PEARL DIVING •Pearls divers would be at sea from mid-May to early September. Cartier is one of the most famous examples of a loyal customer of the pearls of the Arabian coastline, with Jacques Cartier making his first journey to the region in 1912 to hunt for the mother of all jewels, which is what the pearl is so often referred to as. Pearl diving was once the driving force of the UAE economy. Image Credit: Hugo Sanchez/Gulf News. Some of these places were in Italy, India and Sri Lanka. “I am proud that today, the UAE has taken on the dual roles of being a celebrant of its natural pearl diving history, and a promoter of cultured pearls cultivation,” he says. UAE pearls have been documented to have traveled all the way to Rome, Venice, India, Sri Lanka, and some have even pointed to evidence of pearls from the UAE showing up in Viking possessions in Scandinavia. Old practices such as plugging the nose with turtle shell clips, protecting ears with earwax, maintaining a communal atmosphere and consuming coffee and dates before a dive have been an integral part of pearling. Diving under water using only traditional tools was no easy task, and only the strongest and most enduring could handle this task. Top-ranking brands such as Cartier catapulted to fame by using these pearls due to their prestige and quality. Divers were expected to tie a small stone to the bottom of their foot in order to sink to the bottom of the seabed, and collect as many oysters as they could before their breath ran out. Pearl diving offered seasonal if not full-time work for many local Emiratis, and many UAE families can still trace their fortunes back to the historic pearl diving their forefathers did. Popular areas with apartments for rent near Dubai metro stations, How to create a kids’ play area in the garden, Sharjah’s pearl-topped monument at Al Ittihad Square, Dyeen: a woven bag that divers carried to put the shells, Yeda: rope to tether the diver to the dhow. There was always a risk of drowning and attacks from one of the more aggressive marine creatures. DEFINITION OF PEARL DIVING Pearl diving means: the act of diving for the precious gems pearls. This resulted from the Japanese’s invention of artificial pearls. Pearl diving was the basis for the founding of cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi Because of the booming pearl industry, many families and pearl divers ended up moving to coastal towns like Dubai and Abu Dhabi to be closer to work, and therefore helped establish the history and foundation of the UAE… While pearl diving in the UAE has all but completely died out, one of the Emirates - Ras Al Khaimah - is creating cultured pearls "much better than the ones in Japan", Kayed said. Those intrepid local merchants who wanted to save brokerage fees by dealing with India sought British, French and American buyers. •Pearl Divers would dive for 12-14 hours, before sunrise, and till sunset. All you need to know about pearl diving in the UAE. The oil boom in the United Arab Emirates was also responsible for there being less people on this workforce. PEARL DIVING IN UAE Made by : Hamdiya Ahmed 2. Do you know any interesting facts about pearl diving in the UAE? Eventually, Arab and Indian moneylenders controlled the trade as the chief financiers of the industry. Mumbai became the world’s largest pearl market. He donated his collection to pay tribute to all the pearl divers of the country. In exchange for the favour, they would offer them the pearls they collected. Pearl diving has been intrinsic to the UAE culture and heritage. They would spend the money to maintain their boats and buy supplies for the crew. By the early 1900’s the Japanese had discovered a way to make artificial and flawless pearls, which unfortunately caused the pearl industry in the UAE to plummet. Although the industry collapsed by the early 1900s, the traces of this historical golden period, are still ingrained in the hearts of the people of the country. Divers had to tie a small stone to the bottom of their foot to maintain a strong balance while searching for oysters in the seabed. 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