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.”
The results of the first round are as follows:
Qais Saied (Independent): 18.4 per cent
Nabil Karoui (Qalb Tounes): 15.58 per cent
Abdelfattah Mourou (Ennahdha party): 12.88 per cent
Abdelkarim Zbidi (two-time defence minister backed by Nidaa Tounes party): 10.7 per cent
Youssef Chahed (former prime minister, leader of Long Live Tunisia): 7.3 per cent
First Person
Richard Flanagan
Chatto & Windus
MATCH INFO
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Ajax v Juventus, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Match on BeIN Sports
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Expo details
Expo 2020 Dubai will be the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia
The world fair will run for six months from October 20, 2020 to April 10, 2021.
It is expected to attract 25 million visits
Some 70 per cent visitors are projected to come from outside the UAE, the largest proportion of international visitors in the 167-year history of World Expos.
More than 30,000 volunteers are required for Expo 2020
The site covers a total of 4.38 sqkm, including a 2 sqkm gated area
It is located adjacent to Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai South
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Museum of the Future in numbers
- 78 metres is the height of the museum
- 30,000 square metres is its total area
- 17,000 square metres is the length of the stainless steel facade
- 14 kilometres is the length of LED lights used on the facade
- 1,024 individual pieces make up the exterior
- 7 floors in all, with one for administrative offices
- 2,400 diagonally intersecting steel members frame the torus shape
- 100 species of trees and plants dot the gardens
- Dh145 is the price of a ticket
No more lice
Defining head lice
Pediculus humanus capitis are tiny wingless insects that feed on blood from the human scalp. The adult head louse is up to 3mm long, has six legs, and is tan to greyish-white in colour. The female lives up to four weeks and, once mature, can lay up to 10 eggs per day. These tiny nits firmly attach to the base of the hair shaft, get incubated by body heat and hatch in eight days or so.
Identifying lice
Lice can be identified by itching or a tickling sensation of something moving within the hair. One can confirm that a person has lice by looking closely through the hair and scalp for nits, nymphs or lice. Head lice are most frequently located behind the ears and near the neckline.
Treating lice at home
Head lice must be treated as soon as they are spotted. Start by checking everyone in the family for them, then follow these steps. Remove and wash all clothing and bedding with hot water. Apply medicine according to the label instructions. If some live lice are still found eight to 12 hours after treatment, but are moving more slowly than before, do not re-treat. Comb dead and remaining live lice out of the hair using a fine-toothed comb.
After the initial treatment, check for, comb and remove nits and lice from hair every two to three days. Soak combs and brushes in hot water for 10 minutes.Vacuum the floor and furniture, particularly where the infested person sat or lay.
Courtesy Dr Vishal Rajmal Mehta, specialist paediatrics, RAK Hospital
Green ambitions
- Trees: 1,500 to be planted, replacing 300 felled ones, with veteran oaks protected
- Lake: Brown's centrepiece to be cleaned of silt that makes it as shallow as 2.5cm
- Biodiversity: Bat cave to be added and habitats designed for kingfishers and little grebes
- Flood risk: Longer grass, deeper lake, restored ponds and absorbent paths all meant to siphon off water
