Strategically located in the Persian Gulf between the Indian Ocean and Western Asia, the coastal city of Al Zubarah (Qatar) was one of the many Gulf towns that greatly developed over the last millennium thanks to maritime trade. For a short period, between 1760 and 1811, it was one of the most prosperous in fishing and the pearl trade. Founded by merchants of the Utub tribe who came from Kuwait in search of pearls, Al Zubarah differs from other cities due to its later abandonment. Its remains were thankfully preserved under the desert sands across several generations. The entire site illustrates a sustainable land-use pattern representative of traditional Gulf cultures. The ruins of “madabis” (date presses) found on the site confirm the exploitation of date palms by the local tribes. Furthermore, the series of old wells surrounding the site show a sustainable way of using groundwater.