Q Life Magazine Q Magazine (US) May 2016 | Page 48
| Issue 2
The Dhow’s Place in
Qatari Fishing and
Culture
Even today, dhows and their distinctive lateen sails remain a common sight
off the coast of Doha. Qatar, with its reliance on the sea, has a long history
with these ocean cruisers.
Typically spotted in the Arabian Gulf and Red Sea, dhows are believed to
have originated from Persia or the Indian sub-continent. And they’re unique:
unlike most wooden boats, dhows are bound together with rope, not nailed
together—making them particularly durable even when carrying heavy loads.
Dhows have been used for a variety of purposes throughout Qatari history.
Many completed commercial journeys as far as Madagascar or the Gulf of
Bengal; others made pearl diving ventures in the Gulf.
One of their primary uses, though, was providing sustenance to the Qatari
people through fishing. Fishermen would venture out daily, returning with
fresh catches to sell on the beach. Beached dhows drew crowds from coastal
towns, and as Doha developed, a permanent fish market replaced the
practice of selling directly on the beach.
Although fishing techniques improved—from the rudimentary fish traps used
centuries ago to the large fishing nets we see today—dhows remained the
boat of choice.
Of course, many Qataris also enjoy taking a cruise on these traditional boats,
as modern dhows have become a vessel of leisure. Tourists can even dine
aboard a dhow, complete with a view of the Corniche brilliantly reflected in
the bay waters.
For a country so closely linked to the sea, Qatar has always enjoyed a special
relationship to dhows, from their economic significance in the country’s early
days to their cultural importance today.
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