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World Cup host Qatar leaves pearl diving past far behind

Wooden boats are anchored at the Doha bay, in Doha, Qatar, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022. Pearl fishing drove Qatar’s economy until the 1930s. The dangerous, seasonal trade employed nearly all the former British protectorate’s young men and many slaves. But the market collapsed in the early 20th century with the Japanese invention of artificial pearls. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) A seller puts pearl collars on display in his shop in Souq Waqif market, in Doha, Qatar, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022. Pearl fishing drove Qatar’s economy until the 1930s. The dangerous, seasonal trade employed nearly all the former British protectorate’s young men and many slaves. But the market collapsed in the early 20th century with the Japanese invention of artificial pearls. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) A man sews a fishing net, to be sold in Souq Waqif market, on a wooden boat harboured at Doha bay, in Doha, Qatar, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022. Pearl fishing drove Qatar’s economy until the 1930s. The dangerous, seasonal trade employed nearly all the former British protectorate’s young men and many slaves. But the market collapsed in the early 20th century with the Japanese invention of artificial pearls. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) A man walks along a dock with wooden boats harboured at Doha bay, in Doha, Qatar, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022. Pearl fishing drove Qatar’s economy until the 1930s. The dangerous, seasonal trade employed nearly all the former British protectorate’s young men and many slaves. But the market collapsed in the early 20th century with the Japanese invention of artificial pearls. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) People dance in a wooden boat at the Corniche sea promenade in Doha, Qatar, Friday, Nov. 18, 2022. Pearl fishing drove Qatar’s economy until the 1930s. The dangerous, seasonal trade employed nearly all the former British protectorate’s young men and many slaves. But the market collapsed in the early 20th century with the Japanese invention of artificial pearls. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) An old photograph of former pearl diver Saad Ismail hungs in a wall as he talks to clients in his pearl shop in Souq Waqif market in Doha, Qatar, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022. Pearl fishing drove Qatar’s economy until the 1930s. The dangerous, seasonal trade employed nearly all the former British protectorate’s young men and many slaves. But the market collapsed in the early 20th century with the Japanese invention of artificial pearls. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) People take photographs of the Pearl monument at the Corniche sea promenade in Doha, Qatar, Friday, Nov. 18, 2022. Pearl fishing drove Qatar’s economy until the 1930s. The dangerous, seasonal trade employed nearly all the former British protectorate’s young men and many slaves. But the market collapsed in the early 20th century with the Japanese invention of artificial pearls. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) A woman tries on a collar in a pearl shop in Souq Waqif market in Doha, Qatar, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022. Pearl fishing drove Qatar’s economy until the 1930s. The dangerous, seasonal trade employed nearly all the former British protectorate’s young men and many slaves. But the market collapsed in the early 20th century with the Japanese invention of artificial pearls. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) People dance in a wooden boat at the Corniche sea promenade in Doha, Qatar, Friday, Nov. 18, 2022. Pearl fishing drove Qatar’s economy until the 1930s. The dangerous, seasonal trade employed nearly all the former British protectorate’s young men and many slaves. But the market collapsed in the early 20th century with the Japanese invention of artificial pearls. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) A former pearl diver Saad Ismail talks to a client in his pearl shop in Souq Waqif market in Doha, Qatar, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022. Pearl fishing drove Qatar’s economy until the 1930s. The dangerous, seasonal trade employed nearly all the former British protectorate’s young men and many slaves. But the market collapsed in the early 20th century with the Japanese invention of artificial pearls. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)