For centuries, the oyster beds located off the northern shores of Bahrain were described in superlative terms for the quality of their pearls, the density of their oysters, and the high ratio of pearl discoveries made during the pearling seasons. In his Natural History, Pliny the Elder (23/24–79 AD) named the island (then Tylos) as “extremely famous for its numerous pearls.”
The reputation of Bahrain’s oyster beds as the richest in the Arabian Gulf meant that during the season, pearling dhows from Qatar, Kuwait, and the southern Persian coast sailed to join pearling fleets from Muharraq and the main island of Bahrain in their quest for the prized natural treasures. They were able to do so because the waters of the Arabian Gulf were considered common property of all its coastal dwellers.
The Bahraini oyster beds included in the World Heritage Site are Hayr Shtayyah, Hayr Bu ‘Amamah, and Hayr Bu-I-Thamah. Occupying nearly 35,000 hectares, the beds are also home to diverse marine species such as corals, anemones, sea stars, and fish. They have been selected to represent the distinctive qualities of the Bahraini oyster beds and their popularity as a pearl diving location among the Arabian Gulf’s pearling fleets.