Umm Al Quwain: The Umm Al Quwain Department of Tourism and Archaeology announced the latest developments in the archaeological excavation of Siniya island in its third season, indicating the existence of the oldest pearling town in the Arabian Gulf located on Siniya island, which flourished between the late 6th and mid-8th centuries AD.
The town is located near to the ancient Christian monastery (Siniya Monastery), which was discovered last year.
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 UAE 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.”
Rania Kannouma, Head of Archaeology section, explained that the Pearling city that was discovered on Siniya island covers an area of approximately 12 hectares, and it is a distinctive because it was discovered during the organised archaeological excavations at the 2023 excavation season.
The latest research and archaeological excavation show that this city is one of the largest surviving urbanised settlements ever found in the Emirates, comparable to the prosperity of medieval Julfar in Ras Al Khaimah. The city includes a large number of houses, which indicates the presence of thousands of residents who lived there at the time