UNESCO has officially designated the historic pearl diving beds and associated coastal architecture of the Persian Gulf as a World Heritage Site. The decision recognizes the 7,000-year-old tradition that shaped the socio-economic identity of the region before the discovery of oil. The designation covers several key marine sites and the historic quarters of coastal towns that served as the epicenter of the global pearl trade for millennia.
The committee highlighted the intangible heritage associated with the diving songs, traditional dhow construction, and the unique communal governance of the pearl banks. This move aims to bolster marine conservation efforts in the Gulf, protecting the fragile oyster ecosystems from industrial runoff and climate change-induced temperature spikes.