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While Dubai today is synonymous with luxury and innovation, its history tells a different story. The pearl diving industry, once the economic lifeblood of the region, was fraught with peril and exploitation. In the episode, we discuss the narratives that gloss over the significant contributions of enslaved Africans to the region's economic development. Drawing from Finley's "Ancient Slavery and Modern Ideology," we argue that Dubai qualifies as a genuine slave society, emphasizing the crucial role African slaves played in the pearl diving industry. We also scrutinize how slavery persisted even after the pearl industry's decline and its official abolition, with slave owners receiving compensations during the transition to an oil-dependent economy. Tune in to uncover the grim realities that have shaped modern Dubai, challenging the often celebratory stories of its transformation from rags to riches.