How does uae industry changed from pearl diving to oil production?

Answer 1

The United Arab Emirates is comprised of seven emirates: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Qawain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah. All but Fujairah share a rich coastline along the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula. Each emirate has played a role in history that was significant for the whole country to thrive. Dubai was the center of trade and relied on pearling for its main source of income for thousands of years, making pearl diving the oldest profession in the UAE. At the height of the pearl diving industry, the ruling sheikh would send more than 1,200 boats carrying up to 50 men each to sea in June for a 120-day harvest. The men would come in from the oasis and head to sea, leaving the camel herds and date gardens behind for the women to care for. Over several generations, certain tribes became tied to the coastal areas because of the economic advantages of pearl diving, which resulted in the formation of new settlements. pearl diver used a rope called an "al zaibal" to travel back and forth from the boat to the seabed. Another crew member on the boat would hold one end of the al zaibal with a stone tied to the other end. The diver would tie the al zaibal around his waist to help him lower quickly to the bottom in which he would have approximately three minutes to gather as many oysters as he could into a basket called a "daileen." The crew on the boat would then pull the diver to the surface from the seabed with an additional rope called an "al aida." The diver would complete a series of 10 dives, called an "uqhuma," with a five-minute break between each dive.