Culture
2019.05.09 20:17 GMT+8

Tracing Qatar's history of pearl diving

CGTN

The Pearl Carpet of Baroda, one of the world's most expensive carpet, was auctioned for 545 million U.S. dollars by Sotheby in Doha in 2019. The carpet, studded with 1.2-1.5 million natural pearls harvested in the southern Gulf region and along the coasts of Qatar and  Bahrain, was believed to be a gift for the tomb of Islam's prophet Mohammed from India's Maharaja of Baroda a century ago.

Bidders attend the Sotheby's auction of the Pearl Carpet of Baroda at a hotel in Doha on March 19, 2009./ VCG photo

Qatar, one of the wealthiest countries in the world benefits most from the oil and natural gas industry. Today, many recognize this Middle-East country for affluence, but a few know about its history of pearl hunting. There was a time when superior quality pearls from the region were exported to Europe and Asia. 

The country has a long history of pearl diving. For a long time, pearl sector remained the backbone of the economy on this small peninsula in the Persian Gulf. These natural pearls collected from the deep seas along coasts of Qatar remained popular until cheaper pearls from Japan replaced its dominance.

Natural pearls from Qatar./ VCG photo

 Performers act as ancient peral divers in the Opening Ceremony of the 15th Asian Games November 2006 in Doha./ VCG photo

A view of the Pearl Monument in Doha to symbalize Qatar's pearl industrial past./ VCG photo

The Pearl-Qatar, a man-made island in Qatar in 2018./ VCG photo

In recent years, pearl, as well as many other traditions representing Qatar's pastime, have been used by the nation to emphasize its unique identity in the Gulf region and the world. The Pearl-Qatar, an artificial island, is one of the most glamorous addresses in the Middle East. It's named the “Pearl” because the island was built on one of the most prominent pearl diving sites of Qatar. The shape of the island resembles a string of pearls. Even in this golden era of the country, you might still feel Qatar's legacy of pearl diving.

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