Delma Island, in Al Dhafra Region, was a major centre of the Arabian Gulf pearl trade. Ships and merchants travelled from afar for the annual pearling market and to stock up on freshwater, from a bountiful underground supply.

This booklet is an introductory guide to the island’s museum, which opened in 2023 following restoration work to Bait Al Muraikhi, the former home of Muhammad bin Jassim Al Muraikhi, one of the most prominent pearl merchants in the region.

In Delma Museum, readers can learn about the island and its history of pearling; the role of Bait Al Muraikhi, its Majlis and midbasah (date press) in the community; and a unique collection of three traditional mosques in the region.