Historic pearl house reopens in Sharjah

The former home of one of the largest pearl merchants in Sharjah has been restored to its former glory.

The two-storey Bait Al Naboodah was built in 1845 and is recognised as an architectural masterpiece.

Now it has reopened to the public after a painstaking two-year renovation.

The house was owned by Emirati Obaid Al Shamsi, a pearl merchant who expanded his business into India and Europe.

It is built around a large courtyard with walls made of coral.

The interior and exterior designs are characterised by decorative carvings in plaster, wood and palm trunks.

The ground floor includes a bedroom, courtyard and a water well, while upstairs are the summer quarters and bedrooms.

Experts from the Sharjah Institute for Heritage have preserved the building’s frescoes, wooden beams and teak columns.

The house was built with an internal cooling system, and this helped the family stay near the sea throughout the year even when most people would migrate from the coast to the interior and oases to escape the summer heat.

Visitors to Bait Al Naboodah can see how successful the pearl merchant and his family were.

The house was one of the largest buildings in the area, strategically located and with a unique design that included architectural and cultural features from around the world.

Exhibits at the museum include coins from India and the Arabian Gulf, as well as equipment used to measure the weight and size of pearls brought to Sharjah.

There is a collection of archive documents that show dealings with companies, businessmen and the rulers.

Interactive displays also show the importance of the pearl trade to the region.

“Experts from the Sharjah Institute for Heritage were careful to use a mix of traditional and modern techniques in the renovation work so that the restored building is an authentic representation of its past,” said Manal Ataya, director of Sharjah Museums Authority.

“Every detail has been painstakingly brought back to life as a mark of respect for not only its esteemed former owner, but also for this important part of the UAE’s heritage and culture.

“Bait Al Naboodah is a stunning architectural example that embodies the heritage of Sharjah. We invite Emiratis, residents and tourists to experience firsthand the rich lives and experiences of the generations of people who called this grand old property home.”

Pearl diving sustained generations of people who lived in what is now the UAE. But by the 1920s, the trade had collapsed after the development of cultured pearls in Japan.