Suwaidi Pearl Farm, UAE - Best Unique Thing To Do in Dubai UAE

A visit to the Suaidi Pearl Farm is probably the most unique and enjoyable activity to do in the United Arab Emirates.  It's also a fun juxtaposition to the glitz and glamour of Dubai. 

Based in Al-Rams in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah (also known as RAK), this is a great day trip from Dubai but you would probably need a car to get to it.  

Important to note that you can't just rock up to Al-Rams, you must book a visit to the pearl farm in advance.  The easiest way is to go to on their website and contact via WhatsApp.  There are two or three trips a day, I would recommend the last sailing of the day.  This way the weather is likely to be cooler and you will also get some amazing golden hour sunset light.  Plus it's a good time to eat, as you also get food.

The outing may seem quite expensive but I would really recommend it, this was one of the most unique things we did in the UAE and well worth the ticket price!

Pick Up and Travelling to the Pearl Farm

It's really easy to find the Suwaidi Pearl Farm, there is a colourful container on the waterfront which is colourful and easy to find.  There are a couple of parking spaces and then you go inside to check in.  

When the visit is ready to go you head down the gangway and on to an updated pearl boat.  We were really lucky and actually the only people on our visit!  

Once on board you are offered juice and water and then you can enjoy the trip on the boat to the pearl farm visitor centre - a floating pontoon on the water.  The journey is really pleasant, you can sit back and relax or you can look out on the local wildlife.  We saw plenty of birds and even spotted sea turtles swimming about. 

Arriving at the Pearl Farm

When you arrive on the pontoon you can get more refreshments.  Then the tour begins and you are talked through the history of pearl farming in the gulf and the region. 

Learning About the History of Pearl Diving

In particular, it was really interesting to hear about the different tools and seasons of pearl diving.

There is also a replica of a traditional pearl diving boat which you can wander around.  It was crazy to learn that so many men would sleep, eat and work on the deck of the boat for weeks at a time in traditional pearl diving! 

Modern Pearl Farming

Then it was interesting to learn about the advent of pearl farming due to the technology developed for cultivating pearls by Japanese scientists in the 1940s. 

This led to a total devastation of the Arabian pearl industry as pearl farming became more economic and fruitful than the traditional pearl diving. 

However, in 2005 Suwaidi Pearl Farm was set up to use this technology and bring it back to the Gulf.  The visitors centre was only opened a few years ago.  

The next stage of the tour talks about the current process used and there is even a demonstration of actually harvesting the pearl from the oyster.  I got to pick an oyster from a tank and the man showed us the whole process of extracting a pearl from it. 

Learning About Pearls

Then we sat down and saw all the different types of pearls and how they are graded and categorised.  This was incredible to see all the different categories and the sheer amount of pearls in front of you! 

The different sizes, colours and shapes were so good to see!

The Best Souvenir 

Then it came to souvenir time, there is a number of trinkets and jewellery available.  However, my souvenir that I went for is super special and unique - my very own pearl! 

This time you can pick an oyster from the tank and you get to keep the pearl inside.  This was a special wee process and really interesting to get to see the whole process, plus I think I got a beauty! 

Then Food and Chill in Golden Hour....

Then after shopping it's food and golden hour time!  You head upstairs to the first floor of the pontoon and the food you have pre-ordered is waiting for you. 

Both the "fish" and "chicken" options were great and there was a tonne of food!  I went for the "fish" option and there was about three or four different types of fish on a bed of rice, a salad and vegetables and a lovely desert.  Matt had about the same but with half a roast chicken! 

Then we enjoyed the golden hour and looking out over the water before heading out and back to shore!