The Bahrain Pearling Path (Arabic: مسار اللؤلؤ, romanized: Masār al-Luʼluʼ) is a group of cultural sites added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on June 30, 2012. It includes three oyster beds in the northern waters of Bahrain, a part of the coast, the Bu Mahir fort on the southern tip of Muharraq Island, and 17 buildings in the historical area of Muharraq. These areas are connected by a 3.5 km path for visitors.

This site is Bahrain’s second World Heritage Site after the Bahrain Fort. Although the official name is "Pearling, testimony of an island economy," as listed by the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, the international media commonly refers to it as the "Pearling Path." It is considered an open-air museum.

Background

The Pearling Path is located on Muharraq Island, near Bahrain's capital city, Manama. It covers 330,000 square meters and includes oyster beds and buildings connected to the pearl industry from the 19th century.

In 2013, the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities began a project to protect and restore this historical area. The goal was to show its importance to society and the economy, especially its role in the history of the pearl trade. The project includes repairing old buildings, constructing new buildings that respect historical preservation, and planning public spaces that meet modern needs.

The revitalization effort involves conserving historical sites, adding new buildings, and designing public areas. It also includes maintaining streets, parking spaces, and building facades. The project also introduces modern programs to support the community and economy.

Landmarks

Visitors to the area can walk along "The Path," a trail that is 3.5 kilometers long. It starts at Bu Mahir seashore and ends at the Siyadi complex in the center of Muharraq. The path includes many buildings that were important to the pearl trade, especially in the 19th century. Along the way, there is a modern visitor center, 16 public squares, several cultural buildings, and four parking structures.

The buildings recognized by UNESCO include homes and meeting places for pearl merchants, traders, and divers. It also includes places used for trade, storage, and the Siyadi family mosque.

Historic significance

Pearl diving in Bahrain was first recorded in Assyrian writings from around 2000 BC, which referred to "fish eyes" from Dilmun, an ancient kingdom that included Bahrain. Bahrain, known as Tylos in Greek, was described by Pliny as a place famous for having many pearls. The most successful period for pearl diving was between the 1850s and 1930, when pearls were more valuable than diamonds and attracted famous jewelers like Jacques Cartier. During the time between World War I and World War II, pearl trading was mainly controlled by Paris-based companies such as Rosenthal, Pack, Mohammad Ali, and Bienenfeld. After World War II began, the pearl trade moved to Bombay.

By the end of 1930, there were about 30,000 pearl divers in Bahrain, as pearling was the main industry before oil was discovered in 1932. After the pearling industry declined, most divers found work in the newly developed oil industry. Today, trading cultured pearls in Bahrain is not allowed, and only a few pearl divers remain.

Muharraq was the capital and political center of Bahrain in ancient times, but many older buildings there have been damaged. In addition to the end of the pearl trade, the area faced the risk of losing some traditional crafts.

Impact

After the older buildings were restored and put back into use, they brought people from other parts of Bahrain. UNESCO said the project showed how the government, community groups, and businesses in Bahrain worked together to protect the country's heritage.

In addition to being important for history and architecture, the Muharraq revitalization project helped the economy grow and created jobs. Traditional crafts from Bahrain, such as Kurar embroidery, were brought back to life. These crafts had nearly disappeared before. Now, a new group of people is learning them to earn money.

Recognition

UNESCO added the Bahrain Pearling Trail to its World Heritage list on June 30, 2012. UNESCO stated that:

— World Heritage Committee

The restoration of Muharraq was one of six projects honored with the 2019 Aga Khan Award for Architecture. It was recognized for showing the history of the pearl industry in the Arabian Peninsula over many years, especially during its most important time in the 19th century. Farrokh Derakhshani, Director of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture, said, "The restoration of Muharraq is a creative effort to keep the character of this historic city. The project shows care in preserving old buildings and planning modern public spaces." The Aga Khan Award for Architecture noted that this project involved the community in restoring the city while using modern architectural techniques to protect traditional buildings.

• The Siyadi family mosque and majlis in the background