Abdulla Rashed Al Suwaidi at the Suwaidi Pearl Farm in Ras Al Khaimah.

Abdulla Rashed Al Suwaidi is not just a founder; he is a guardian of tradition and culture. As the last in a long line of original pearl divers, he continues the legacy through Suwaidi Pearls, the world’s only Arabian pearl farm, located in Ras Al Khaimah. Abdulla, founder of Suwaidi Pearls, is the last in a lineage of pearl divers stretching back generations. His journey to uncover his own treasure began with his grandfather, a man who dedicated nearly fifty years to diving for Arabian pearls. These pearls, renowned for their exquisite beauty, were once the backbone of the Arabian Gulf's economy. The divers, with their remarkable ability to plunge into the ocean's depths and retrieve these treasures from the sea floor, were the heart of coastal communities.

A childhood by the sea

Abdulla's earliest memories are intertwined with the sea. "My grandfather would take me by the hand, guiding me through the narrow streets to the shoreline," he recalls. Abdulla would watch in awe as his grandfather waded into the sea, disappearing beneath the waves for what seemed like hours. He fondly remembers joking with his brother, calling their grandfather "half man, half fish," because no one else could endure the depths and the time he spent underwater. For the pearl divers of that era, diving was more than a livelihood; it was a way of life, a calling that demanded months-long journeys with no guarantee of return. The 1930s brought a dramatic shift to the pearl diving industry. Alternative sources of pearls flooded the market, causing prices to plummet. The discovery of oil further transformed the region, making the once-vital practice of pearl diving a relic of the past. The vibrant tales of the last generation of divers began to fade. It was during this period of change that Abdulla’s grandfather encouraged him to seek out the remaining elderly divers, to listen to their stories and learn from their experiences. Driven by a deep respect for his heritage, Abdulla not only heeded his grandfather's advice but also decided to immerse himself in the craft, mastering both free diving and scuba diving. "From a hundred oysters, I would extract just one tiny pearl," he says, reflecting on the painstaking process that has a mere one percent success rate. Years later, Abdulla realized the true gift his grandfather had given him. By leading him to the shore as a child, his grandfather had unknowingly shown him the perfect location for cultivating pearl oysters along their coast—a place where the mountains met the sea.

Reviving a hidden treasure

The Suwaidi Pearls farm now produces pearls from the same pristine waters that once yielded natural Arabian pearls. "Once again, the world yearns for our pearls," Abdulla says with pride. In collaboration with local artists, Suwaidi Pearls showcases the unparalleled beauty of Arabian pearls, gaining international recognition. Abdulla is determined not to let the past fade into obscurity. "I refuse to let the past fade into the annals of history," he declares passionately. He envisions a future where the tradition of pearl diving is not just remembered in old photographs, films, or stories passed down to children, but as a living heritage that people can see and touch. "I want more people to experience the magic of diving, to explore the depths of the ocean, and to hold an oyster that could produce the world's most exquisite gems," he says. Abdulla’s mission is to share this unique beauty with the world, a beauty that can only thrive in the Arabian Gulf but belongs to everyone. Every day, more visitors come to Suwaidi Pearls, eager to interact with the oysters, open them, and discover the pearls inside. Abdulla believes there is a treasure hidden within everyone's mind, and through his pearl farm, he hopes people will uncover it. "There's a treasure hidden within everyone's mind, and right here, I hope they discover it," he says, inviting people from all walks of life to connect with a piece of living history and find their own treasures in the process. ICA/Expat Media This story also appears in the Expat Media Special Edition magazine
For all the latest news from the UAE and the world, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and subscribe to our YouTube page