Bahrain's Crown Prince yesterday welcomed Unesco's recognition of Bahrain's Pearl Road as a World Heritage Site.

During a ceremony at Bu Maher Fort, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier, was presented with a Unesco certificate, 'Pearling: Testimony of an Island Economy', by its World Heritage Centre head of Arab countries division Nada Al Hassan, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

Culture Minister Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa and senior officials were present.

The Crown Prince said the achievement signified the value of Bahraini pearls and recalled the country's long-standing reputation for an industry that has contributed vitally to its culture and national character. He later toured the Visitors' Centre, which provides information on the site.

The Pearl Road starts from Bu Maher coast in Muharraq and continues until the Seyadi majlis, which will be the main pearl museum.

The road goes through the house of diving, Al Jalahma house, Bader Ghuloom traditional medicine house, Yousif Al Alawi house, Fakhro house, Murad house and majlis, shops and buildings in Al Qaisariya Suq - including Yousif Abdul Rahman Fakhro's building and Rashid Fakhro's building, Al Nawkathah house and finally the house and mosque of Seyadi.

The Pearl Road is the second site in Bahrain to be included on the World Heritage list after the Bahrain Fort achieved the status in 2005. - TradeArabia News Service