While oil has made Qatar rich—it boasts the highest per capita income in the world—the tiny Gulf nation hasn’t forgotten its seafaring roots.
Prior to the discovery of oil in 1939, pearling was one of Qatar’s primary revenue streams. Not only is it a gamble—approximately one in 10,000 oysters contains a pearl—it was extremely dangerous due to the toll diving took on the body, coupled with the constant threat of lingering barracudas, sea snakes, and sharks nearby.
About the source
Atlas Obscura aims 'to inspire wonder and curiosity about the incredible world we all share'. You can contribute to their collection on their website.
Keep track of the places you have been, log in.
[{"center":{"lat":"25.175155","lng":"51.211705"},"visited":false,"icon":"https:\/\/theplacesihavebeen.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/themes\/tpihb\/markers\/marker.site_ao.2.off.png","name":"Musfur Sinkhole","post_type":"site_ao","url":"https:\/\/theplacesihavebeen.com\/site_ao\/musfur-sinkhole\/"},{"center":{"lat":"25.317754","lng":"51.441243"},"visited":false,"icon":"https:\/\/theplacesihavebeen.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/themes\/tpihb\/markers\/marker.site_ao.2.off.png","name":"Qatar National Library","post_type":"site_ao","url":"https:\/\/theplacesihavebeen.com\/site_ao\/qatar-national-library\/"},{"center":{"lat":"25.260876","lng":"51.613842"},"visited":false,"icon":"https:\/\/theplacesihavebeen.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/themes\/tpihb\/markers\/marker.site_ao.2.off.png","name":"Hamad International Airport’s Giant Bear Sculpture","post_type":"site_ao","url":"https:\/\/theplacesihavebeen.com\/site_ao\/hamad-international-airports-giant-bear-sculpture\/"},{"center":{"lat":"25.349325","lng":"51.261137"},"visited":false,"icon":"https:\/\/theplacesihavebeen.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/themes\/tpihb\/markers\/marker.site_ao.2.off.png","name":"Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani Museum","post_type":"site_ao","url":"https:\/\/theplacesihavebeen.com\/site_ao\/sheikh-faisal-bin-qassim-al-thani-museum\/"},{"center":{"lat":"25.286763","lng":"51.529429"},"visited":false,"icon":"https:\/\/theplacesihavebeen.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/themes\/tpihb\/markers\/marker.site_ao.2.off.png","name":"Qatar’s Slavery Museum","post_type":"site_ao","url":"https:\/\/theplacesihavebeen.com\/site_ao\/qatars-slavery-museum\/"},{"center":{"lat":"25.289594","lng":"51.535119"},"visited":false,"icon":"https:\/\/theplacesihavebeen.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/themes\/tpihb\/markers\/marker.site_ao.2.off.png","name":"Souq Wakif Blue Road","post_type":"site_ao","url":"https:\/\/theplacesihavebeen.com\/site_ao\/souq-wakif-blue-road\/"},{"center":{"lat":"25.160911","lng":"51.618076"},"visited":false,"icon":"https:\/\/theplacesihavebeen.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/themes\/tpihb\/markers\/marker.site_ao.2.off.png","name":"Al Wakrah Dhow Harbor","post_type":"site_ao","url":"https:\/\/theplacesihavebeen.com\/site_ao\/al-wakrah-dhow-harbor\/"},{"center":{"lat":"25.418114","lng":"51.413222"},"visited":false,"icon":"https:\/\/theplacesihavebeen.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/themes\/tpihb\/markers\/marker.site_ao.2.off.png","name":"Barzan Towers","post_type":"site_ao","url":"https:\/\/theplacesihavebeen.com\/site_ao\/barzan-towers\/"},{"center":{"lat":"25.320884","lng":"51.443713"},"visited":false,"icon":"https:\/\/theplacesihavebeen.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/themes\/tpihb\/markers\/marker.site_ao.2.off.png","name":"‘The Miraculous Journey’","post_type":"site_ao","url":"https:\/\/theplacesihavebeen.com\/site_ao\/the-miraculous-journey\/"},{"center":{"lat":"25.115671","lng":"51.46903"},"visited":false,"icon":"https:\/\/theplacesihavebeen.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/themes\/tpihb\/markers\/marker.site_ao.2.off.png","name":"Al Wukair Scrapyard","post_type":"site_ao","url":"https:\/\/theplacesihavebeen.com\/site_ao\/al-wukair-scrapyard\/"},{"center":{"lat":"25.288003","lng":"51.532616"},"visited":false,"icon":"https:\/\/theplacesihavebeen.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/themes\/tpihb\/markers\/marker.site_ao.2.off.png","name":"Souq Waqif","post_type":"site_ao","url":"https:\/\/theplacesihavebeen.com\/site_ao\/souq-waqif\/"},{"center":{"lat":"25.406297","lng":"51.206665"},"visited":false,"icon":"https:\/\/theplacesihavebeen.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/themes\/tpihb\/markers\/marker.site_ao.2.off.png","name":"The Camel Racing Robot Jockeys of Qatar","post_type":"site_ao","url":"https:\/\/theplacesihavebeen.com\/site_ao\/the-camel-racing-robot-jockeys-of-qatar\/"},{"center":{"lat":"25.2854473","lng":"51.53103979999999"},"visited":false,"icon":"https:\/\/theplacesihavebeen.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/themes\/tpihb\/markers\/marker.place.2.off.png","name":"Doha","post_type":"place","url":"https:\/\/theplacesihavebeen.com\/place\/doha\/"},{"center":{"lat":"25.74204","lng":"51.557672"},"visited":false,"icon":"https:\/\/theplacesihavebeen.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/themes\/tpihb\/markers\/marker.site_ao.2.off.png","name":"Al Thakira Mangroves Forest","post_type":"site_ao","url":"https:\/\/theplacesihavebeen.com\/site_ao\/al-thakira-mangroves-forest\/"},{"center":{"lat":"25.288012","lng":"51.549401"},"visited":false,"icon":"https:\/\/theplacesihavebeen.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/themes\/tpihb\/markers\/marker.site_ao.2.off.png","name":"National Museum of Qatar","post_type":"site_ao","url":"https:\/\/theplacesihavebeen.com\/site_ao\/national-museum-of-qatar\/"}]
