Oman's Pearl Empire: The Banks That Bankrolled the Busaidi

Long before oil, Oman's wealth came from the sea—specifically, from the pearl banks of the Persian Gulf. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how the Busaidi sultans controlled the pearl trade from Muscat to Bahrain, managing a network of divers, merchants, and tribal sheikhs. They discuss the grueling life of a pearl diver, the seasonal rhythms of the shu'aa fleet, and how natural pearls were graded and sold in Bombay. The episode also covers the rise of Japanese cultured pearls in the 1920s, which devastated Oman's economy, and the last Omani pearl dhow that sailed in the 1950s. Along the way, they touch on the Qawasim pirates who raided pearl convoys, the British attempt to regulate the trade, and the legacy of Saeed bin Salim al-Harasi, a legendary diver from Sur. It's a story of wealth, danger, and an empire built on the lustre of a single gem. #OmaniPearlTrade #Busaidi #PearlDiving #PersianGulf #Shu'aa #SaeedBinSalimalHarasi #Sur #Muscat #Bahrain #Qawasim #Bombay #Mikimoto #CulturedPearls #1920s #1950s #MaritimeHistory #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo