<strong>Pearls before oil:</strong> Prior to the discovery of oil and gas in Qatar, pearls were the driving force of wealth in Qatar, with demand for these iridescent gems driving an intensive industry.
Pearls before oil: Prior to the discovery of oil and gas in Qatar, pearls were the driving force of wealth in Qatar, with demand for these iridescent gems driving an intensive industry.
Alexandre Brum/Sport Press Photo/ZUMA Press
<strong>Monument to the past:</strong> Today the pearling industry has long-vanished from Qatar, but reminders are everywhere -- like the giant sculpture at the entrance to Doha's Dhow Harbour
Monument to the past: Today the pearling industry has long-vanished from Qatar, but reminders are everywhere -- like the giant sculpture at the entrance to Doha's Dhow Harbour
Peter Giovannini/imageBROKER/Shutterstock
<strong>Architectural inspiration: </strong>The grand Pearl-Qatar development in Doha is another throwback to the past, built on artificial islands that represent pearls and oysters.
Architectural inspiration: The grand Pearl-Qatar development in Doha is another throwback to the past, built on artificial islands that represent pearls and oysters.
Christopher Pike/Bloomberg/Getty Images
<strong>Traditional </strong>Pearl-fishing traditions are recalled at the annual Katara Traditional Dhow Festival in Doha.
Traditional Pearl-fishing traditions are recalled at the annual Katara Traditional Dhow Festival in Doha.
Nikku/Xinhua/Getty Images
<strong>Tile style: </strong>Keen-eyed commuters may notice the pearlescent tiles featured throughout Doha's metro stations.
Tile style: Keen-eyed commuters may notice the pearlescent tiles featured throughout Doha's metro stations.
Matthew Ashton/AMA/Getty Images
<strong>Water work: </strong>In 1907, 48% of Qatar's 27,000-strong population (or nearly all men) were employed in pearling.
Water work: In 1907, 48% of Qatar's 27,000-strong population (or nearly all men) were employed in pearling.
David Ramos/FIFA/Getty Images
<strong>On display: </strong>A small pearling display can be visited at the Al Zubarah Fort, which sits astride the ruins of a former pearling port.
On display: A small pearling display can be visited at the Al Zubarah Fort, which sits astride the ruins of a former pearling port.
Vito Di Stefano/Alamy Stock Photo
<strong>Set in stone: </strong>The rock carvings of Al Jassasiya -- thought to be up to 250 years old -- clearly depict, among other things, pearling dhows with oars sticking out from mandorla-shaped hulls like legs on an insect.
Set in stone: The rock carvings of Al Jassasiya -- thought to be up to 250 years old -- clearly depict, among other things, pearling dhows with oars sticking out from mandorla-shaped hulls like legs on an insect.
Andrew Shaylor/iStockphoto/Getty Images