DHoW TH e a ncien T a r T of Buil D ing

The ancient tradition of ‘dhow’-building is alive and well today, not least in Bahrain, where A.Aziz Shaheen Khalfan still plies his trade constructing these beautiful vessels.

hARDy,seaworthy and tested by time, the dhow can trace its roots as far back as ancient China, around 600BC. It was spread throughout Asia by Chinese explorers, and adopted by many local sailors and fishermen as their vessel of choice. The dhow is thought to have been brought to the Gulf by Yemeni and Omani sailors, and from here went on to ply its trade along the coasts of East Africa.

Dhows are still used as fishing and small cargo vessels to this day, and the construction and maintenance of the wooden ships continues to be a lively trade. One such tradesman is A.Aziz Khalfan and we caught up with him to find out more about his craft.

From what age did you begin?

A very young age, only 12 or 13 years old! how did you become a dhow builder?

To me it’s a passion that I pursued. It was inspired by my entire family, who were all carpenters working on doors and windows since a long time ago.

Were any of your family dhow builders?

No, I’m the only one who specialised in this craft.

What type of wood do you use? is it plentiful?

I have been using the same kind of wood for a long time. It’s called “Alsaay” (teak) wood and it’s the only type that I have been using because of its ability to endure and last longer. The wood was readily available before, however these days it’s harder to come by; it’s mostly imported from Dubai.

how many dhows have you made, and how long does it take?

I make two types of dhows, a big one and a small one. I have made about 10 big ones and more than 50 small ones. It takes about six to seven months to create the big kind, but with the help of workers only four to five months. The small ones take 20 to 25 days to be made. how much does it cost?

The cost associated with building the dhow is very high, as each wood plank costs 130BD, leading to a total cost of building a dhow of 8,000 to 10,000BD.

have you taken part in exhibitions or festivals?

Yes I have joined the Katara competition for traditional ships, which is an annual competition held in Qatar. I have entered the competition with my Dhow and won first place.

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