This year’s festival was held at the esplanade of Katara - the Cultural Village Foundation over five days while observing all precautionary health measures against the Covid-19 pandemic, based on MoPH guidelines.

The 10th edition of the Katara Traditional Dhow Festival concluded yesterday with culture, history, heritage and traditional dhows being highlights of the event.

It has been long years since the launch of what is now considered a significant event for Qatar and the region's maritime culture, heritage, history and tradition.

This year’s festival was held at the esplanade of Katara - the Cultural Village Foundation over five days while observing all precautionary health measures against the Covid-19 pandemic, based on the guidelines of the Ministry of Public Health

Participating nations – Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Iraq, Tanzania and India along with exhibitors and visitors adhered to all health and safety measures, resulting in a "very successful conduct of the festival", Katara said in a statement.

The festival witnessed visits by several dignitaries and ambassadors. The turnout was "large and quite high over the weekend", the statement noted.

As in the past decade, the festival has been "characterised by a number of competitions and marine shows, besides a variety of cultural activities and events that reflect the ancestral heritage and shed light on the ancient maritime history aimed at restoring culture and preserving folk heritage".

Traditional dhows of varying types and sizes were showcased at the 10th Katara Traditional Dhow Festival attracting visitors to the five-day event with music and authentic cultural shows.

Dozens of dhows were lined up at the Katara Esplanade and on the beach, while dozens more sail into the sea making a picturesque sight to behold for many visitors who came to experience the festival.

The dhows, whose origins can be traced many generations back, came in different shapes, designs and names. They were also used for different purposes like for fishing, pearl diving and transport. 

The ‘Al-Boom’ was one of the most famous types of vessels intended for the transportation of goods through the Gulf ports, from the Arabian Sea into the Indian Ocean and as far as the African countries. 

The ‘Sanbok’ was used to cross seas and the ocean to reach India and Zanzibar in Tanzania.

The ‘Al-Bateel’ has been used for pearl diving purposes while ‘Jalbot’ loader in addition to the ‘owls’ has been among the oldest sailing vessels used for long distance voyages in maritime transport of the past. They also carried horses and dates among other commodities. 

The Baggara and Shu’i were also used for such voyages. 

The dhows along with the various pavilions displayed varied items in addition to the different traditional shows, activities and competitions making the annual festival informative, educational and entertaining. 

Qatar’s glorious maritime history can be traced through various eras through the display of books, paintings, boats and materials used for sea voyages in the past. Also on show were tools used for pearl diving, boats, and equipment used by deep sea divers made from goat horns. 

A major aim of the recently concluded 10th edition of the Katara Traditional Dhow Festival was to preserve the country’s maritime tradition by educating the new generation of its importance and significance.