History

With a 7,500 year old history, the wealth of knowledge and insight into ancient civilisations that is buried under Dalma Island’s soil is priceless.

The Abu Dhabi Islands Archaeological Survey in 1992 identified more than 20 archaeological sites on the island, dating back to the Neolithic Period (Late Stone Age).

Dalma Island boasts some of the region’s earliest evidence of date palm cultivation along with Mesopotamian pottery and finely flaked stone tools. Some 200 wells once supplied the island with fresh water which indicates the island was used as a place of permanent residence. The evidence of imported pottery also indicates the presence of a thriving maritime trade along its shores.