Sur Dhow Shipyard and Maritime Heritage
Visit Sur legendary dhow shipyard, one of the last places on Earth where master craftsmen still build traditional wooden sailing vessels by hand, keeping alive a seafaring tradition spanning over 2,000 years.
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Dhow Shipyard Entrance
Enter the Sur dhow shipyard where master craftsmen called ustad work without blueprints or power tools, shaping the curved wooden hulls of traditional Omani sailing vessels using techniques passed through generations.
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Active Construction Workshop
Watch active dhow construction where craftsmen shape planks of Indian teak using adzes and chisels, fitting them to the curving hull frame in the same sequence of steps used by Omani shipbuilders for centuries.
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Finished Dhow Display
Admire completed dhows ready for launching, their dark hulls treated with fish oil and paint, ranging from small fishing vessels to large ocean-going ghanjah that once sailed to India, East Africa, and the Gulf.
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Caulking and Finishing Area
Observe the caulking process where craftsmen hammer coconut rope fiber soaked in fish oil into the gaps between planks, waterproofing the hull using the same organic materials used by Omani sailors for millennia.
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Boat Launch Ramp
See the ancient boat launch ramp where completed dhows are slid into the creek on wooden rollers greased with fish oil in a launching ceremony that has accompanied every new vessel built at Sur.
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Sur Creek View
Look out from the shipyard over Sur Creek, the natural harbour that has sheltered Omani dhows for over 2,000 years, its calm turquoise waters still home to dozens of traditional wooden vessels at anchor.