Dhow

A dhow is a traditional sailing vessel used along the coasts of the Indian Ocean, from East Africa and the Horn of Africa through the Arabian Peninsula to the Indian subcontinent and the Persian Gulf. Characterized by slender hulls and one or more masts with lateen sails, dhows are built to carry cargo, fish, or passengers across coastal waters and between ports.

Construction and rigging typically feature a wooden hull, with historic methods using sewn planks bound by coconut fiber lashings and caulked seams. In modern practice, dhows may be built from timber, plywood, or other materials, and many retain the lateen sail arrangement—triangular sails set on a short yard—often supplemented by an auxiliary engine. The number of masts can vary from one to multiple, and sail plans are adapted to local conditions, cargo needs, and crew size.

Historically, dhows played a central role in long-distance maritime trade, transporting spices, timber, pearls, and textiles between the Gulf, India, East Africa, and beyond. They supported regional economies and facilitated cultural exchange across maritime networks skilled in navigation and seamanship. Pearl diving communities in the Gulf and coastal traders in the Indian Ocean relied on dhows for generations.

Today, dhows remain part of living maritime culture in many countries. They continue to be used for fishing and coastal transport, and in some areas for tourism and cultural demonstrations. Dhow-building traditions persist in places such as Oman, the United Arab Emirates, and parts of India and East Africa, where the vessels are celebrated for their historical significance and craftsmanship.