United Arab Emirates

Ahmad Bin Suloom

What gulets are to Turkey and Croatia, dhows are to the United Arab Emirates. Wrought with tradition with builds dating back aeons – the dhows are an integral part of UAE culture and heritage and are still widely used today. This tradition has spurred on a strange phenomenon: wooden dhow-inspired superyachts.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262478/image/large-608b9781f319d0cefba1295d8e9e0f70.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262478">The first dhows that danced across the Red Sea and Indian Ocean were much thinner than they are today. Over the years they’ve stretched and expanded to offer more volume and more stability, but originally they were incredibly slender, packed with goods, darting from port to port.Fisherman and pearl divers had different requirements and needed space to carry their equipment and daily catches. Importantly, they also needed space for more people. These beamier boats are a common sight across the UAE and many are so engorged, swallowing entire restaurants to offer fine dining experiences for hundreds of guests at any given cruise.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262477/image/large-c292da7f2fb1c4adcbbbe9af10bd0569.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262477">The wooden superyachts infuse the two traditions. “The DNA of these superyachts relate just as much to the original dhows as they do to the wide beam and voluminous modern ones,” Mahmoud Itani of IR Yachts told SuperYacht Times. “In this region, onboard space is really important as people want to go out with large groups of friends; usage is very different to Europe.” <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/263196/image/large-96a02755f154b9edeb1b5b06b318e78d.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/263196">"These yachts are hard to trace as they’re custom-built for individual clients and rarely go on the market – or to any shows, for that matter. “I’ve been attending and organising the Dubai International Boat Show for more than 10 years now, and I can’t remember ever seeing a single superyacht on display that was built out of wood,” Itani reflected.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262487/image/large-807cf5d601fc605e401b8d6626a29e8a.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262487"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262484/image/large-ab44a56f02225eb532c9637ba2f5eaf7.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262484"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262485/image/large-675093ccd1a8dc465dee62fd80015b59.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262485">It makes sense too, as these yachts are rarely – if ever – put up for charter, kept in private use away from the public eye. Boat Shows aren’t relevant for the shipyard’s marketing purposes either, as these wooden dhow-inspired superyachts are invariably single units and quite often the only one built and delivered by that particular shipyard.“There are a few boat builders in the UAE that would build one of these yachts, but the design rarely comes from their in-house team. After meeting their own design team, the client will then approach a shipyard in either Al Jadaf or, more recently, Dubai maritime city,” Itani explained. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262497/image/large-ea48a1afc0b6a7773c138f1d503e36bb.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262497"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262494/image/large-c54ef33378f581c876b5bc98b37142df.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262494">We believe there could be as many as 10 in and around the region, the largest of which is on the market listed with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4224" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Bush & Noble (Company)">Bush &amp; Noble</a>. The unnamed 50-metre Full Custom wooden superyacht was delivered in 2020 and undertook a maintenance appointment last year, which included a complete repaint with a high gloss clear coat. She has a price tag just shy of $10,000,000. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262495/image/large-cd1ea84bdb62b5b43d893603b165ecb0.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262495"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262489/image/large-5b4877b6688fbd54f48378f2720c19d3.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262489"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262488/image/large-a0442a0dcfd95fee7c06e74c1b204bc5.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262488">Unlike the other wooden dhow-inspired superyachts, this 50-metre has a unique construction that utilises fibre and teak planks. She’s constructed with a teak hull and GRP superstructure, which has then been clad with teak for that traditional look and feel. Henderson Marine International designed and engineered her.With a beam of 10.56, she’s a metre and a half wider than the average 50-metre motor yacht built after 2018. And once onboard it’s the first thing you notice. She’s cavernous and has been styled with the more familiar trappings, all sourced from Italy at “no expense spared,” as central agent <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4224" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Bush & Noble (Company)">Bush &amp; Noble</a> explain. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262479/image/large-3b074acd794dfdc3701713a1994606a3.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262479">The main saloon is home to many seating areas for socialising, a breakfast bar, two screening areas and a formal dining area. She has six staterooms and can comfortably accommodate as many as 12 guests. She can also host five crew in five cabins.When asked about the buying profile for this superyacht, Bret Noble of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4224" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Bush & Noble (Company)">Bush &amp; Noble</a> anticipates the most attention from Qatar. "There are many well-built traditional dhows in the region," Noble explained. "Qatar is really the number one region for these boats. But they're also not an uncommon sight in and around the UAE. The 50-metre Full Custom superyacht is unique though and interesting for the Australasian market."&nbsp;The second largest known wooden superyacht is the 47.55-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4428" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Tiger47.55m (156'0&quot;)Unknown2009">Tiger</a>, delivered in 2009 and currently berthed in Abu Dhabi. Then there’s the 47.5-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/7265" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Al Adaam 47.5m (155'10&quot;)Unknown2016">Al Adaam</a> and 47-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/7266" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Al Maqam 47.0m (154'2&quot;)Unknown2016">Al Maqam</a> (pictured below), both delivered in 2016. &nbsp;<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/262693/image/large-0c6ce6794e310131951dfbb44d5f1cac.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/262693"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/172073/image/large-e19ea236eda006e4340ba9d522119e78.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/172073">One of the earlier wooden superyachts to hit the water was <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4429" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Touch Wood II44.2m (145'0&quot;)Saif Mohd. Belqaizi Ship Building2011">Touch Wood II</a>, &nbsp;delivered in 2011 by the artisan shipyard <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5095" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Saif Mohd. Belqaizi Ship Building (Company)">Saif Belgaizi Ship Building &amp; Carpentry</a>, which typically builds traditional dhows and bespoke furniture. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4429" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Touch Wood II44.2m (145'0&quot;)Saif Mohd. Belqaizi Ship Building2011">Touch Wood II</a> spans three decks, with an interior volume of 450 GT. She’s constructed from Indian teak.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/8033/image/large-b475c2f0f3a18d756c6476fa0baa9f5b.JPG" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/8033"> <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/38038/image/large-f1b6ff6365126f6113fa7098f8a92d83.JPG" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/38038">Read:&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/42027" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="More details about Dubai mystery yacht Touch Wood (2014-03-23 23:00:00 +0100)">More details about Dubai mystery yacht Touch Wood</a><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4429" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Touch Wood II44.2m (145'0&quot;)Saif Mohd. Belqaizi Ship Building2011">Touch Wood II’s</a> predecessor, the 37-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4427" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Dijer37.0m (121'5&quot;)Unknown2005">Dijer</a> (ex. Touch Wood), was built at a different shipyard, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7070" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Obaid Bin Juma Bin Suloom (Company)">Obtain Bin Juma Bin Suloon</a>, the Guinness world record holder for building the largest wooden dhow. Dijer is believed to have been delivered in 2005 with a volume of 400 GT. “I’ve been onboard,” Itani said. “She’s pretty dark inside as even her interior is made of wood. But she’s very big and the guest areas are incredibly spacious.” <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/38040/image/large-7aaf4812d505544f87bc43c731162d78.JPG" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/38040"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/147576/image/large-d6e1c2e0c149a385332f95df5acf93df.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/147576"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/263195/image/large-bc5267867735c226255b439fc1bbc729.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/263195">These yachts are also built to a different class – Tasneef, a local classification society – &nbsp;that allows them to be built in a certain way. The owners have even more flexibility with their designs and can put further emphasis on the cabin and guest areas. “They’re also not powered by large <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1409" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="MTU (Company)">MTU</a> engines either,” Itani added. “They’re low power, low consumption vessels that are extremely quiet when underway.” <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/26802/image/large-8c94a518774372581e9243490ccf1635.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/26802">Read:&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/41945" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="The unusual superyacht Touch Wood in Dubai (2014-03-05 23:00:00 +0100)">The unusual superyacht Touch Wood in Dubai</a>The three smallest are perhaps more dhow than yacht, but the list comprises 33.2-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5991" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="El Emadi 33.2m (108'11&quot;)Al Mannai Marine2016">El Emadi</a>, 31.2-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5990" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Project B31.2m (102'4&quot;)Al Mannai Marine2015">Project B</a> and 30.35-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5992" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Alaska30.35m (99'7&quot;)Al Mannai Marine2015">Alaska</a>, all built by Al Mannai in Doha, Qatar.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/20780/image/large-b5c6fb3008083a22eb4aca0d66cfef2c.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/20780"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/20785/image/large-2b3de5ac8e41635ef57d697b8f1f5437.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/20785"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/2130/image/large-73300e66f02149625432dc2bec0150eb.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/2130"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/2129/image/large-24e22c65dd02060d3f18d86eb4150f8c.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/2129">If anyone has information about any other dhow-inspired wooden superyachts, please reach out to <a href="mailto:news@superyachttimes.com" target="_blank">news@superyachttimes.com</a>&nbsp;

dhow-inspired wooden superyachts

What gulets are to Turkey and Croatia, dhows are to the United Arab Emirates – and they've created a new phenomenon: wooden dhow-inspired superyachts.