Doha: Specialist in traditional wooden dhow modeling and head of design and shipbuilding at the Wooden Vessels Section of the Private Engineering Office, Eng. Ahmed Jassim Al Sayegh affirmed that wooden dhows historically represented a key economic pillar in Qatar and the GCC, with the prosperity of shipbuilding closely linked to the growth of maritime trade in the region.
According to Qatar News Agency, Al Sayegh explained that historically, dhows imported essential goods such as spices, timber, iron, textiles, and other raw materials vital for daily life and construction, at a time when local resources were limited mainly to dates and pearls. Ownership of a dhow was once common in coastal towns, serving both transportation and trade, and providing a convenient means of travel between cities such as Doha, Al Wakrah, and Al Khor.
Addressing the current state of traditional shipbuilding, Al Sayegh highlighted several challenges, including high construction and maintenance costs, competition from lower-cost fiberglass boats, a shortage of skilled craftsmen, and difficulties in sourcing suitable timber for custom-designed vessels.
He explained that wooden ships require continuous care, as water seepage is inevitable due to multiple joints, necessitating regular maintenance, water pumping, and periodic painting, particularly for teak vessels, to protect them from damage and marine organisms, a commitment some owners now avoid.
Al Sayegh emphasized that government support has played a decisive role in preserving this heritage, citing assistance provided to wooden vessel owners, as well as their inclusion in cultural events, festivals, and maritime races.
He added that the workshop he operates under the Private Engineering Office receives full institutional support, noting that completed heritage vessels are ultimately handed over to museums or the Ministry of Culture as part of national documentation and preservation efforts. He stressed the importance of documenting traditional shipbuilding as a precise engineering discipline and called for dedicated museums featuring accurate models and educational workshops to ensure the transfer of this knowledge to future generations.