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Dhows |
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This region was a home for many famous sailors and navigators; therefore the dhow, which is a traditional Arabic boat, has become one of the symbols of the UAE. Boats were required for fishing, pearling and trading; consequently, boat building was also a highly developed industry. The word dhow is used to describe a number of traditional Arab sailing vessels of different shapes and sizes. The most common are: the shu’ai, sambuq, boom, baghala, and the jelbut, to mention but a few. All of them share several common features. One of them is the lateen (triangular) sail, which was developed by the Arabs and is very effective when sailing close to the wind. Another typical attribute is the shallow hull.
Traditional vessels were mainly made of teak or other hard wood imported from India. In the past, planks were sewn together with cord made from the fibres of the date palm tree trunk. Later, very long metal nails, made by a blacksmith working in the shipyards, were introduced. Contrary to the European method of boat construction, where first a framework was prepared and then hull planking was attached; the dhows were built starting from the hull planking, while later the framework was added. Often builders had no drawings or plans, basing the construction of a dhow only on experience. The hull was covered with a boiled grease to prevent leakage, and then it was painted with a mixture of whitewash. The rest of the woodwork was coated in fish oil. The tools used in building traditional boats were very basic, they included hammer, saw, adze, bow-drill, chisel, plane and caulking iron.
Although not exactly dhows, small boats call sha-sha were often used in Ras Al Khaimah and other Gulf countries. They were made from the ribs of the date palm fronds tied together with a rope, and suitable for two people for coastal fishing. They are no longer constructed, but they can be seen in the heritage villages.
Nowadays, many boats are built of modern materials, using new techniques and designs. A motor also replaced a traditional sail. These boats are used by fishermen, traders and increasingly in tourism. Nevertheless, some dhows are still made in the traditional way. Since the costs of production often outstrip the profits, construction of a dhow is carried on to sustain tradition rather than to profit from a sale.
Inspired by the long maritime tradition of the region, the local governments of the UAE organize boat races, usually in the winter months. Many college students and other individuals take part in such contests, which are divided into sailing and rowing competitions. |
TRADITIONAL BOAT YARD IN RAK One of traditional boat yards is located in the district of Al Darbijaniyah in Ras Al Khaimah. The dhows are built on the beach near the high tide mark. Once the boat is finished, launching can take up to five days depending on the tides. Workers manually pull the dhow down to the water using an old-fashioned system of ropes and capstan.
DHOW LAUNCHING IN RAK March 2010 was the last time that a big traditional dhow was launched in Ras Al Khaimah. It took seventeen craftsmen and two years to construct this wooden dhow. Additionally, the dhow was launched in a traditional way. See RAKpedia’s Video Gallery for a short movie. |
