The capital of the United Arab Emirates is the bustling and industrious emirate of Abu Dhabi. Known for serving as the hub of political activity in the UAE, Abu Dhabi is one of the world’s foremost business and financial centers. With numerous attractions, iconic landmarks, and many amazing sights and features, it is also one of the region’s top tourist destinations. Abu Dhabi’s thriving hospitality industry is home to many iconic resorts such as the Desert Islands Resort & Spa by Anantara; a luxurious beach resort Abu Dhabi that makes an ideal base for your travels.
Before the advent of the oil, finance, and tourism industries, there was one industry of Abu Dhabi that not only provided the bulk of its income, but also put Abu Dhabi on the map; that industry was pearling. Abu Dhabi provided the world with some of the finest pearls known to mankind, and maintained a reputation of being the world’s premier pearl supplier till the mid 1900’s. Though pearling is no longer given the prominence it used to be given, pearling and pearl divers still remain a vital component of Abu Dhabi’s culture and heritage.
Abu Dhabi’s pearling industry boomed towards the 18th and 19th centuries, as international demand increased and more and more locals took to pearl diving. The hardships of the pearl divers of this time were legendary, as they faced immense risk both financially and to their own lives, as diving to depths of up to 40m was indeed a daring task. Pearling was essentially a lifestyle for those engaging in pearl diving, as communities of pearl divers and fleets of dhows were formed in Abu Dhabi. Today, with the advent of other industries pearling is no longer practiced widely as it used to be. But there are many dhow tours and museums dedicated to the life and times of Abu Dhabi’s pearl divers; a culture and heritage which was the foundation of modern Abu Dhabi.