The Omani Empire's Persian Gulf Pearl Banks

Before oil, Oman's economy was built on pearls. In this episode, Lucas and Luna dive into the pearl banks of the Persian Gulf and the Omani ports that controlled the trade for centuries. They explore the seasonal rhythms of the pearl divers, the financiers and merchants who connected the Gulf to Bombay and Basra, and the hidden labour — African-descended slaves who did the most dangerous diving. The episode traces the boom years of the 19th century, the devastating impact of Japanese cultured pearls in the 1930s, and how the pearling economy shaped Omani coastal society. Key figures include the legendary diver Saeed bin Salim al-Harasi and the merchant prince Sultan bin Ali al-Hinai. Lucas also explains the unique dhow design used for pearling, the shu'aa, and the social hierarchy aboard pearling boats. Luna asks about the role of women in the pearl trade and the environmental toll of overharvesting. #Oman #PearlDiving #PersianGulf #IndianOcean #Dhow #Shuaa #SaeedBinSalim #SultanBinAli #JapaneseCulturedPearls #SlaveDivers #Mikimoto #PearlingEconomy #OmaniHistory #19thCentury #GulfTrade #FexingoHistory #History #MaritimeHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo