Ras al-Khaimah (United Arab Emirates) (AFP)

Off the United Arab Emirates and in the shadow of the brown mountains of Ras al-Khaimah, Abdallah al-Souwaidi keeps intact the passion of his ancestors for pearls, even if he no longer uses fishing techniques of yesteryear .

At the death of his grandfather almost 30 years ago, the 45-year-old Emirati said he felt "socially, culturally and historically" responsible for maintaining this tradition.

"I lived and grew up with my grandfather," says Abdallah Souwaidi, dressed in the traditional Emirati white dress. "He taught me a lot about pearl fishing, especially since I kept asking him questions".

Abandoning the old technique of removing oyster pearls from the bottom of the sea, when diving without modern equipment, he chose to cultivate them, according to a method developed by the Japanese.

This involves inserting a foreign body into the oyster, which then produces mother-of-pearl to protect itself.

In the pearl farm of Abdallah Souwaidi, which has about twenty employees, oysters grow in cages suspended from buoys that float near the shore. After being "seeded", about 60% of them will produce pearls, against only 1% for wild oysters.

This technique ended in the 1930s with natural pearl fishing, which once made the fortune of many Emirati families.

Because before the black gold makes the Gulf one of the richest regions of the world, its inhabitants lived mainly from the fishing and the trade of these small treasures, much in demand by the jewelers of Europe and India.

"For long periods of UAE history, the pearl has been at the heart of economic activity," said Peter Magee, head of the archeology department at the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism.

- "Deep link" -

Then the natural pearl trade collapsed in the twentieth century, when the Gulf countries concentrated on oil production and became an unaffordable luxury product between the two world wars.

"The cultured pearls were easier to produce and cheaper, which devalued the once prestigious status of the pearls of the Emirates," says Magee.

Surrounded by mangroves, mountains and camels grazing near the shore, Abdallah Souwaidi's pearl farm is located off his hometown of Al-Rams, in the emirate of Ras al-Khaimah.

It was here that, as a young boy, he accompanied his grandfather to discover natural pearls, a tradition that still fascinates him today.

The activity of this enthusiast, launched in 2005, reflects a growing awareness of the cultural traditions that are the pride of the Emirates, such as falconry and camel racing.

In October, authorities in Abu Dhabi announced that the world's oldest natural pearl, discovered near Marawah Island off the Emirati capital, would be exhibited for the first time at Louvre Abu Dhabi, a local branch of the capital. famous French museum.

This pearl of 8,000 years ago dates back to the Neolithic period and gives evidence of human activity in the area at that time.

"The fact that it is the oldest known pearl in the world is a reminder of the deep connection that binds the Emirates to the sea," said Peter Macgee.

- "Nowhere else" -

On board a dhow, traditional dhow on which fishermen embarked for months during the pearling season, Abdallah Souwaidi trades his white dress for a black diving suit.

For foreign and local visitors, he jumps to the water to show how his ancestors collected oysters from the seabed.

His tools are simple: a weighting stone hanging from his foot, a nasal plug and a basket.

For Mr. Souwaidi, who sells his pearls to local and international designers, his activity is not only to generate profits but also to transmit a tradition to the new generation of Emiratis and to tourists who venture to closed.

"When people come to the Emirates, they want to see something they have not seen anywhere else," says the entrepreneur, adding that pearl fishing can boast a low ecological footprint.

Pointing at the camels grazing without worrying about him, and the flamingos who continue to look for fish in the water, Mr. Souwaidi welcomes: "Look, we can come and go calmly," without disturbing the environment .

© 2019 AFP