Traditional Fishing Dhow from Bahrain

Postcard

The word 'dhow' is used to describe all types of local boats along the coasts of the Arabian Peninsula, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and East Africa. Dhow is the generic name of a number of traditional sailing vessels with one or more masts with lateen (triangle shaped) sails.

“Nobody had made a wooden dhow in Bahrain for 20 years – until recently to fulfil an order for the king. Ibrahim is one of the last 3 craftsmen who still know the trade: No plans, all made by eye. Indian teak planks fixed with wooden plugs and sealed below the waterline with camel fat. Good for 100 years. Ibrahim can’t find young Bahrainis willing to learn his craft, so he’s teaching apprentices from India and Bangladesh.”