The Representations of Pearl Fishing and Trade Heritage by University’s Youth in the UAE

Abstract

This study aims to identify representations of pearl heritage among youth in the United Arab Emirates. To answer this problem, in the first stage, the study was based on the documentary method and the classification of the most prominent references that dealt with the phenomenon in order to its most important historical stages. The most prominent approaches assumed in previous studies. In the second stage, the quantitative approach was adopted by using a questionnaire to collect data. The snowball methodology was selected in the definition of the sample, which mainly targeted the student community of the College of Sciences and Humanities at Ajman University. The study found that, despite all efforts made, youth interest in pearl heritage in the Emirates remains relatively weak. It is also characterized by its fleeting and temporary dimension. In contrast, the presence of the traditions of pearl hunting and trade in the local family or regional context represented the most important factor that pushes the youth to care about this heritage. The family was not primarily responsible for transmitting and preserving this heritage, which is the role that youth entrusted to educational and cultural institutions. This refers to us that their representations of this heritage are dominated by the educational dimension