The Umm Al Quwain Department of Tourism and Archaeology has found the existence of an old pearling town in the Arabian Gulf.
Located at Siniya Island in Umm Al Quwain, the town was largely in use from 501 AD to 800 AD.
Discovered in 2022 during organised archaeological excavations, the town is situated near an ancient Christian monastery.
The pearling city was once home to over a thousand residents and is one of the largest surviving urbanised settlements found in the UAE.
Additionally, a large number of pearls were found at the site, with pearls being one of the main industries during that time period.
The excavations also found buildings with different designs, ranging from one to two bedrooms and larger buildings with multiple rooms, separated by indoor squares.
Research in the area will continue as the discovery is an important part of history for Umm Al Quwain.
Sheikh Majid bin Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, Chairman of Umm Al Quwain Department of Tourism and Archaeology said, "This is a discovery of major significance for the history of Umm Al Quwain, the United Arab Emirates and the Arabian Gulf. Pearling has been an essential part of the livelihood and a fundamental component of the heritage for over 7,000 years. In addition, the Neolithic graves in Umm Al Quwain are known evidence of pearling."