Sustainable pearl farming in Abu Dhabi revives traditions with modern innovation

Oyster farming enhances marine health, reducing contamination and supporting biodiversity in local waters

Children learn about the region's pearl heritage and traditions at Abu Dhabi Pearls Centre. The National

Just a stone's throw away from the bustling cityscape of Abu Dhabi lies a window into the UAE's historical ties to the pearling industry – the Abu Dhabi Pearls Centre.

Established in 2007 in Al Mirfa, the centre has intensified its efforts not only towards the sustainable farming of pearls, but also towards preserving and reviving the region's traditions. The centre recently hosted its first Abu Dhabi Pearls Festival, which concludes on Thursday. The event provides interactive educational, entertainment and heritage activities that help visitors learn about the emirate’s maritime and pearl-diving heritage.

“The centre’s objective is to sustainably farm pearls by adopting the latest technologies and innovations,” said Ahmed Al Hashemi, executive director of terrestrial and marine biodiversity sector at Environment Agency Abu Dhabi.

Looking back for the future

Within the boundaries of the Marawah Marine Biosphere Reserve, the centre is capable of cultivating approximately 100,000 operated oysters, the term given to oysters impregnated with a nucleus to grow a pearl, and harvesting 20,000 pearls annually. The centre produces pearls using local oyster species Pinctada radiata in the waters of the Arabian Gulf. At the moment, the pearls produced are provided to local academic institutions, however, there are plans to sell the locally grown pearls by the end of the year.

Ayesha Hassan Alhammadi, unit head of the Abu Dhabi Pearls Centre told The National that the centre works with schools and university to show the history of pearling in the region, as well as the process of operating on oysters to farm pearls. Each pearl can take up to five years to grow following a delicate procedure that involves inserting a piece of oyster shell into the host oyster.

Khaled Khaleel Al Hammadi, a technician at the centre told The National that farming the oysters helps to naturally clean the marine environment. “The oyster is a filter feeder, each oyster clean 50 gallons of water per day.”

This is important for marine life, as John Burt, Professor of Biology, New York University Abu Dhabi highlighted that the biogenic reefs that pearl oysters form are “hotspots of biodiversity, supporting numerous species of fish and other organisms that use these areas as habitat and foraging areas”.

A report published by The Nature Conservancy said that pearl oysters could also play a role in reducing organic contaminants and metals in water through organic filter feeding. As part of further efforts to support sustainable pearl farming in the region – in December, the environment agency announced a freshwater pearl oyster aquaculture project in Al Faya. The project, an extension of the Abu Dhabi Pearls Centre in Mirfa, is dedicated to culturing new oyster types in the emirate.

Travelling back in time

Before the discovery of oil in the late 1950s and early 1960s, pearling was vital to the UAE's economy. In the 19th century, pearl diving contributed to as much as 95 per cent of the region's income. At its peak in the early 20th century, approximately 80,000 men worked on pearling vessels.

Prof Burt told The National that pearl oysters have a long history of cultural use in the UAE. “There is archaeological evidence dating back to the Neolithic period, not long after the start of human civilisation, of pearls being used for jewellery and shells being used to make fish hooks,” said Prof Burt.

Across the UAE, in Ras Al Khaimah, Suwaidi Pearls, established in 2004 by Abdulla Rashed Al Suwaidi, is a tourism destination that aims to highlight his family's heritage.

Raki Phillips, chief executive of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, told The National that such initiatives were a great example of a sustainable attraction that positively impacts the community. “The experience provides a historical overview of this tradition, and most of the tour guides that work at the farm are from the Al Rams area,” he said. “They speak with pride about their work, as it reflects the ancestral heritage of the Emiratis.”