In the days of pearl diving, sailors across the Arabian Gulf spent long months out at sea searching for precious pearl oysters, passing the long evening hours around pots of tea and coffee on deck by sharing countless stories about the sea and its secrets.

Among the most famous of these tales is the legend of «Umm al-Duwais», a mysterious figure said to appear to lone sailors on quiet nights near the shore. The old stories warn against being drawn in by her enchanting appearance, advising every sailor never to wander off alone from his companions in the darkness, no matter how tempting it might seem.

Elder sailors would tell this tale to the young boys heading out to dive for the very first time — not out of real fear of the legend itself, but to teach an important, practical lesson: always stay close to your team, and never go off alone during the dangerous work of diving, no matter the circumstances, because true safety is found in staying together, not in going it alone. This tale remains a cherished part of Gulf maritime heritage, still told today in gatherings and summer evening sessions.