Dhows have an old-world charm that is unique in the history of maritime trade. These sailboats
have travelled the coasts of the most fascinating trade routes, the constant movement
connecting civilizations from all walks of life.
A now rare craft of over 2000 years old, these ancient sail ships were built on the knowledge
passed down from one generation to another, using traditional hand tools, teak and cedar wood.
The skill was a way of life for coastal tribes, especially in the Emirates.
Captains of dhows navigated through the waters using no more than a compass, an ancient
celestial navigation device known as a kamal, and their memory. The beautiful white lateen sails
powered these boats through the Persian Gulf, the rich tropicals of East Africa and Madagascar,
the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean and beyond.
Solid and sturdy, they sailed according to monsoon winds, merchants and traders spending
months in the ports before navigating towards new destinations. Today, merchants still prefer
the Dhow to reach remote coastal communities. The white sails and wooden docks continue to
decorate the Dubai creek with a beauty that is unsurpassed by any other sailing vessel.
Picture: Photographer unknown, Silver gelatin print,Kenya c. 1900, 36.1.43 Courtesy the
Melville J. Herskovits Library of African Studies Winterton Collection, Northwestern University