Pearl diving in the Persian Gulf

Pearl diving in the Persian Gulf was a seasonal industry in which crews harvested natural pearls from oyster beds, supporting coastal economies before oil production transformed the region.

Pearl oyster: A marine bivalve mollusk that can produce pearls, including species harvested in the Persian Gulf. Its natural pearls were the industry’s sought-after product.
Pearl diver: A person who descends underwater to gather oysters or other marine resources. Divers performed the dangerous underwater labor at the heart of the industry.
Pearl trade: The production and exchange of natural and cultured pearls across local and international markets. Gulf diving was one regional source within a much broader trade.
Pearling heritage in the Gulf: The material and cultural legacy of pearl fishing in Gulf societies. The industry’s practices and memories remain part of regional heritage.
Pearl diving boat: A vessel equipped to carry divers and crews to offshore pearl beds. Boats transported crews to the beds and organized repeated dives.
Ghawwas: A traditional Gulf pearl diver who gathered oysters by breath-hold diving. The ghawwas made repeated descents to collect oysters from the seabed.
Dilmun: An ancient civilization centered in present-day Bahrain and nearby Gulf regions. Archaeological evidence links Dilmun-era communities with early Gulf pearl use and exchange.
Pearling songs of the United Arab Emirates: Work songs and musical traditions associated with pearling crews in the United Arab Emirates. These songs preserved rhythms and expressions of life aboard pearling boats.
Nukhada: A traditional Gulf boat captain who directed the vessel and its crew. The captain managed the expedition and coordinated work at sea.
Sibib: A traditional Gulf pearling-boat crew member who assisted a diver during descents. The sibib tended the diver’s rope and helped bring the diver back aboard.

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