Editor’s Note
This article profiles Saad Ismael Khalifa Al Jassim, an 89-year-old man considered among the last of his region’s pearl divers. His remarkable story bridges a fading traditional craft and a personal history of extraordinary physical feats.
The man, nearly 90 years old, is recognized as one of the last pearl divers in the region.
he introduces himself naturally. It’s hard to believe the person saying this is 89 years old. Saad Ismael Khalifa Al Jassim speaks in very clear English. The nearly century-old Qatari does not like questions. Before the interview begins, he makes his only requirement clear: to listen to his story without interruptions.
His pearl shop is not hard to find. One just needs to venture into the Souq Waqif, a labyrinthine traditional market located in the heart of Doha, Qatar. There, shop number 169 is distinguished by a sign that says “The Old Pearl Diver.” Around it are markets for gold jewelry, dates, saffron, honey, and coffee. Men, dressed in long white ankle-length robes, smoke shisha and drink tea until late afternoon. Women—mostly covered with a black veil—browse the stalls looking for abayas and perfumes.
Saad is a celebrity in Qatar. On his Instagram account, he has photos with personalities like David Beckham and the former Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who handed over power to his son in 2013. He jokes that he’s still missing one with the Argentine star.
he begins telling Infobae about the ancient trade. He says he started searching for natural pearls when he was 18, accumulating over seven decades of experience. For traditional diving, three elements are needed: a heavy stone to submerge, a basket to collect oysters, and a clip to pinch the nose. Al Jassim clarifies:
According to the diver, recognized as one of the last of his kind in the region, the trade requires a special diet. In the morning, Arabic coffee and dates. At night, rice and fish. Meals must be light to leave space for air when diving.
he concludes with laughter.
The pearl trade was the axis of the emirate’s economy before the discovery of its gas and oil reserves in the late 1930s, which now drive its economic development. That’s why young Qataris no longer dive for a living, but as a hobby. Even in Saad’s shop, most products are cultured pearls—which form the same way as natural ones found in mollusks, though through insemination—coming from China, Japan, and Dubai. Prices are varied but accessible: rings and earrings for 150 riyals (about 60,000 Argentine pesos), necklaces for 350 or 450 riyals (approximately 142,000 and 180,000 pesos, respectively), and strands of smaller pearls for 100 riyals (around 40,000 pesos).
Saad’s last expedition was on June 23 of last year. But what was supposed to be a demonstration for the camera ended in an unexpected setback: he stepped on a “sea creature”—in his words—and was injured. Since that day, pain in his knees hasn’t left him and limits his movements. Saad claims it’s all due to the evil eye.
Besides pearl diving, the man’s second passion is bodybuilding. According to his account, he took his training to the extreme in several experiments: the riskiest involved lying on broken glass and covering himself with a board, tightened by stones. In another demonstration, he placed himself between two cars in reverse and managed to stop them with the strength of his body. According to local media, Al Jassim once obtained second place in the 1958 Mister Dhahran competition in Saudi Arabia. Back in his country, he worked as a Civil Defense officer for nearly three decades.
explains to this outlet one of the shop employees, who has been in the Souq for 20 years.
