Created by a pearl diver and trader, the immersive Suwaidi Pearls journey goes by dhow boat to a floating museum in a secluded Al Rams lagoon surrounded by mangroves and the striking Al Hajar Mountains. Learn about pearl diving, crack open a pearl diving oyster and see the valuable pearls up close.
Sail Downstream on a Dhow
Tours start from a jetty on a traditional wooden dhow, which sails for 20 minutes through Ras Al Khaimah waters in the shadow of the dramatic Al Hajar Mountains. Dhows were essential lifelines in these parts, carrying pearl divers to offshore banks as early as the 7th century. Look for turtles and pink flamingos in the water.
Learn About Pearl Diving
See a collection of equipment traditionally used by a free diver: a nose clip made out of turtle bones, finger guards made out of soft camel or goat leather, and a weighted rope with a woven basket or bag for collecting oysters. Divers would repeatedly plunge to depths of up to 20m, holding their breath for as long as two minutes each time to collect oyster shells from the seabed. See a miniature pearl farm, with ropes attached to oyster trays in the sea. On each tour, one oyster is opened to hopefully reveal a real pearl.
A Pearl Show
Hold white, black, gold, rose and even green pearls in your hands during the show and tell. The finale is holding a set of priceless prayer beads, which took years to make. There are only three of these sets in the world: the others were gifted to Sheikh Khalifa and Sultan Qaboos.
