Dhow (/ d aʊ /; Arabic: داو, romanized: dāw) is the generic name of a number of traditional sailing vessels with one or more masts with settee or sometimes lateen sails, used in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean region.

dhow, one- or two-masted Arab sailing vessel, usually with lateen rigging (slanting triangular sails), common in the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. Bows are sharp, with a forward and upward thrust, and the sterns of the larger dhows may be windowed and decorated.

For many centuries, boats that sailed on the Indian Ocean were called dhows. While there were many different types of dhows, almost all of them used a triangular or lateen sail arrangement. This made them markedly different than the ships that evolved on the Mediterranean.

Dec 17, 2018 · Sur became famous as a center for the construction of dhows, the generic name given to a range of traditional Arabian sailing vessels, typically fitted with one or two masts and lateen rigging.

Jan 15, 2025 · This article explores the dhow boat in depth, covering its description, history, design, propulsion, construction, types, and its lasting impact on maritime traditions. The dhow is a wooden sailing vessel characterized by its unique triangular lateen sails, sharp bow, …

Dhows are ancient two-masted sailing boats that were used especially in the Middle East regions. Generally known as traditional Arab boats, dhows were used in the olden times for trading goods and fishing activities. Dhows were typically of three to five hundred tones in weight and had a slender hull design. Dhow ships are still used in many ...

Turn-of-the-century photographs of dhows off the east coast of Africa. These feature the enormous diversity of dhows, sailing craft ranging from coastal fishing boats to ocean-going vessels. Dhows connected the cosmopolitan urban communities of Indian Ocean world.

The word dhow is actually a generic term for a variety of traditional sailing vessels with one or more masts with lateen sails (a classic triangular-shaped sail attached to a cross beam that is raised and lowered according to the winds) found in the Indian Ocean or the Red Sea.

There five major kind of dhows are: 1) the “Sambuk”, used for pearling, fishing and transporting pilgrims to Mecca; 2) the “boom”, a vessel built in Bahrain, Oman and Kuwait, and considered the most seaworthy vessel; 3) the “baggala”, the largest dhow, once used to transport slaves and ivory but rarely seen anymore; 4) the “badan”, a small craft...

Dhow ships are traditional sailing vessels primarily used in the Indian Ocean region, characterized by their distinctive lateen sails and wooden hulls. These ships played a crucial role in maritime trade routes, facilitating commerce between East Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and South Asia during the height of Indian Ocean trade.