Sea of Pearls

Pearls shaped Gulf economies and cities, redefining social and political life for centuries.

Text in Arabic

Since Antiquity, the natural pearls of the Gulf have been celebrated as the world's finest, most lustrous and most plentiful. From the early days of maritime trade until the 1920s, they were the primary commodity of Arabia and Persia's coastal communities and were traded across the globe, becoming one of the most sought-after luxury commodities in the world. Rising international demand between the 17th and 20th centuries led to the Gulf's pearling becoming their economic mainstay. Pearls, fished in their millions, became the pillar of the regional economy, dominating lives, health and expectations of entire sheikhdoms and fledgling states. This influx of people and wealth to the coast permanently reshaped the social, economic, and cultural fabric of the Gulf, providing manpower and capital that germinated and nurtured the city-states--notably Bahrain, Doha, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah--that endure there today. Despite its formative role, little is written about this seven-thousand-year-old industry.

In this newly designed edition of Dr Robert Carter's ground-breaking work, the full evolution of pearling on both the Arabian and Persian sides of the Gulf is uncovered, revealing its profound influence on the region's political, social, and urban configuration. The study also draws striking parallels between the Gulf's dependence on pearls and the oil industry that would later replace it. With updated maps, photography, and archival imagery, the new edition covers, in unprecedented detail, the history, development, conduct, florescence and catastrophic collapse of the industry in the early 20th century. It will fascinate not only those wishing to understand the growth and conduct of the pearl fishery but also those interested in the broader history of the region, the origins of the Gulf states, and the colourful story one of mankind's most highly prized precious gemstones.