How about diving for pearls in Dubai ?

Dubai - Pearl diving has a rich history in the UAE, and for hundreds (if not thousands) of years was the primary economic activity in the Emirates.

Published: Thu 3 Nov 2016, 5:57 PM

Updated: Tue 21 Nov 2023, 11:07 AM

By
Bernd Debusmann Jr.

For many of us in the UAE, it's hard to fathom what life here must have been like in decades and centuries past. It certainly wasn't easy, and for many, life revolved around one thing: pearl diving. To truly understand what it entailed, it's best to try it oneself!

Pearl diving has a rich history in the UAE, and for hundreds (if not thousands) of years was the primary economic activity in the Emirates.

Historical records show that some parts of the country, such as Julfar, in modern-day Ras Al Khaimah, were known as pearling hubs as early as the 10th century. That's until the invention of cultured pearls in Japan in the 1930s destroyed the local industry. Pearls from the Gulf waters were desired far and wide, and the people of the UAE worked hard to supply that demand.

But pearl diving wasn't just a means of subsistence. It had its own social structure, steeped in traditions. Did you know, for example, that pearl diving without the permission of the local rulers was banned? Or that modern diving equipment was forbidden? To dive for pearls, divers had to peg their nose shut with clips made from turtle shells, and descend to the bottom with the aid of a stone. Once they signalled to the crew that they were ready to come up - by tugging on a rope - they were pulled back to the surface.

If you're curious for a taste of what the life of a hard-working pearl diver must have been like, you're in luck! A number of companies in the UAE offer pearl diving experiences. Perhaps the best of these is conducted by the Al Mahara Diving Centre in Abu Dhabi, which takes visitors on a two-hour voyage aboard a traditional dhow, complete with traditional stories and songs rendered by seafarers.

After an introduction to the history and practice of pearl diving, briefing on safety and traditional techniques, guests are free to search the waters off Bani Yas Island for pearls. The best part is that if you manage to find a pearl, you can keep it! And if you're lucky enough, you may even find a dana, considered to be the most valuable kind of pearl.

bernd@khaleejtimes.com