In search of the pearl

For centuries before the discovery of oil, the lulu (locally called qamashah), or pearl oyster provided a source of relative wealth in Dubai. Pearl oysters occur naturally on relatively shallow banks (fasht) in the Gulf. By the turn of the twentieth century about 1200 boats were based in ports on the Trucial Coast, manned by some 22,000 men. The pearling industry had transformed the traditional economy of the population. Many families moved to live permanently in one of the coastal settlements, increasing, in particular, the size and importance of Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

As pearling flourished, an increasing number of the able-bodied men participated in the dive (ghaus) during four months in the summer. Many of the Liwa-based sub-tribes of the Bani Yas formed co-operatives, which jointly owned a boat and whose members shared the proceeds from the sale of pearls according to an established arrangement, giving the biggest share to the captain (Nakhuda), a larger share to the divers than the haulers, and leaving some money aside to finance the preparations for the following year. It was due to pearling that, over several generations, some tribes became more specialised in one economic activity or another and became tied to particular locations. Today, the cultivation and trade in pearls has all but been exhausted. Yet, the legacy of this period in history continues. The pearl is an important symbolic icon in a city which honours its traditions and is loyal to the memory of its founders.

Pinctada Pearls has a fine boutique in Mina A' Salam located at harbour level.