Pearls
Dubai’s trading reputation was built on Pearls. Before the discovery of oil, the Pearl Industry was the mainstay of the local economy, and demand for prestigious Arabian pearls came from all over the world.
The discovery of cultured pearls, together with Dubai’s growing interests in other economic areas, meant that - for a while at least - the pearl industry began to take a back seat. However, things have now come full circle and Dubai is poised once again to become the dynamic pearling capital of the world.
Research shows that the pearl industry has seen significant global growth in the past few years as a result of increasing consumer awareness and demand. One of the markets with the strongest growth potential is Dubai and the neighbouring Middle East markets.
Indeed, Dubai’s traditional focus on gold and subsequent thirst for diamonds has gradually translated to an appreciation and desire for pearls and coloured gemstones as the burgeoning jewellery retails sector starts to cater to the wider tastes of the region’s affluent resident and international tourist base.
So from both a Heritage and Commercial point of view, it seems that pearls have finally returned to their spiritual home.