Sea of Pearls tells the story of this extraordinary industry, tracing its origins back over seven millennia. Drawing on decades of archaeological research and historical scholarship, Robert A. Carter reveals how pearling connected the Gulf to the wider trade networks, how it enriched merchants and rulers, and how it demanded unimaginable sacrifices from the divers who risked their lives in the depths.

This new edition offers a vivid and comprehensive account of a maritime heritage that is often overshadowed by the Gulf’s modern story. Beautifully illustrated with rare archival photographs, maps, and artefacts, it captures both the grandeur, and the hardship of a world now largely lost. It also integrates the latest archaeological discoveries, shedding new light on Bronze Age pearling settlements and the enduring cultural memory preserved in UNESCO World Heritage sites such as Pearling, Testimony of an Island Economy in Bahrain.

Pearling is more than an economic history—it is a story of resilience, identity, and heritage. It reminds us that the Gulf was once at the centre of a thriving maritime world, long before the oil era. The echoes of this past remain in the songs of traditional seafarers, in the architecture of coastal towns, and in the collective memory of a region shaped by the sea.

Whether you are drawn to Gulf history, maritime heritage, or the deeper cultural roots of the Arabian Peninsula, Sea of Pearls offers an unparalleled perspective on the forces that shaped a civilisation.

Dr. Robert Carter is one of the foremost experts on the archaeology and history of the Arabian Gulf. A graduate of Oxford and University College London, he has led surveys and excavations across Qatar, Bahrain, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Iran. His research contributed to the creation of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Pearling, Testimony of an Island Economy in Bahrain, and he has served as Professor at UCL Qatar as well as a trustee of the International Association for the Study of Arabia. His work continues to illuminate the Gulf’s deep past and the preservation of its cultural heritage.