ABU DHABI — Faraj al-Muhairbi, 75, is the last of the natural pearl divers who in the early 20th century generated more than 90 percent of the income of what is now the United Arab Emirates.

"There used to be many pearl oysters on the seabed around 80 km away. I could dive for only 1 1/2 minutes but was able to get oysters quickly," said al-Muhairbi in the Abu Dhabi village of Sila.

Pastoral Arabs roamed the deserts in winter and became fishermen for four months from May, looking for pearls. "There was a day when I dived 350 times from sunrise to sunset," al-Muhairbi said.