The Katara Traditional Dhow Festival is now underway at Katara Beach, running from late November to mid-December. Visitors can explore beautifully restored wooden dhows, watch sailing and rowing competitions, and enjoy cultural shows, crafts, and family activities. Entry is free, and events usually take place from afternoon until late evening. A great chance to experience Qatar’s maritime heritage.
🌊 Quick Facts About Qatar’s Maritime History
1. Qatar was once one of the world’s major pearl-diving centers.
Before oil, pearls were the country’s economic backbone, traded across India, Persia, and Europe.
2. Qatari dhows sailed as far as East Africa and India.
Merchants used large wooden dhows for long-distance voyages carrying pearls, dates, and textiles.
3. Traditional navigation relied on stars and coastal landmarks.
Before modern tools, Qatari captains (nakhudas) memorized star paths for nighttime sea travel.
4. Pearl divers worked in extremely harsh conditions.
They held their breath for up to a minute, using nose clips and finger guards, often diving 30–40 times per hour.
5. The diving season was called the ghaws.
It lasted from June to September and involved entire crews living at sea for months.
6. Dhows were built without nails in early times.
Builders used ropes, wooden pegs, and coconut fibers soaked in oil to bind the planks.
7. Families depended on the sea for generations.
Fishing, trading, and pearling shaped social roles, songs, traditions, and coastal settlements.
8. The “boom-and-bust” of pearls changed the region.
Natural pearls declined after the 1930s with the arrival of Japanese cultured pearls, impacting the Gulf economy.
9. Qatar’s coastal forts protected maritime routes.
Al Zubarah, Al Khor, and Ruwais regions were key for trade and sea defense.
10. Many maritime words in Qatari Arabic are unique.
Terms like badoor (diving rope), dallah (anchor stone), and nakhuda (captain) reflect centuries of sea culture.
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