28 May 2006
Dubai: One of the longest standing shipyards producing traditional wooden dhows along Dubai Creek is being forced to vacate its premises to make way for construction work.
According to the general manager of the 22 year old Khattal Boat Factory near the Jadaf zone, it is one of only two such factories in the Middle East still handmaking the dhows.
Mohammad Al Khattal, general manager of the Khattal Boat Factory, said the move would mean a loss of profits as it could take up to five months for the factory to fully relocate to Dubai Hamriyah Port.
"We were told we had to move but it is very difficult because we have not yet finished one of the boats. We spoke to Shaikh Mohammad and since then have been told we can stay here until we finish our current dhow which will take another four or five months," said Khattal.
He added that orders would be suspended while they are moving which could take another four to five months.
"We are one of the only companies still building dhows. Orders have even come from France which uses our dhows for coastguards or fishing.
"It will take a long time to transfer everything to the new place. Already the road to get here is very difficult and people don't come here unless they know about it," he said
Khattal said that in the past they had built a fully refrigerated dhow which was used to transport bananas from Somalia. A dhow can cost up to Dh3.5 million.
The trade is slowly being replaced by fibreglass dhows which can be guaranteed for up to 25 years, however they are initially more costly to produce.
"With a traditional dhow you can buy wood as you go. With fibreglass it is one piece and you have to buy the quantity all in one go which is very expensive," said Khattal.
One of their fibreglass dhows should touch the water soon when it is launched early next month.
Factory hopes to build 70m-long craft
By Emmanuelle Landais
Gulf News 2006. All rights reserved.
