Monday, Jun 08, 2009
Sharjah: People who wish to get more insight into the UAE's national and marine heritage can now visit the new Sharjah Maritime Museum at Al Khan area.
His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Member of Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, yesterday inaugurated the museum.
Dr Shaikh Sultan told officials at the opening ceremony that he was keen that the maritime heritage of the region should have a distinguished position among the museums of Sharjah, and serve as an important attraction for visitors.
"The museum is part of a bigger plan as we want it to become a maritime park, which will include a Marine Studies Research Centre and a restoration of the old homes in Al Khan," said Manal Attaya, director general of Sharjah Museum Department. The maritime museum is part of an expansion plan of the old museum, which earlier existed in the heritage area and included traditional wooden seafaring dhows used for fishing, trading and pearling, boat building and diving tools.
"The idea is to celebrate marine life and maritime history, and how we deal with it as a source of livelihood. The Maritime Museum talks about the ocean from the human element, as well as from the maritime animals," Manal said.
The museum includes new traditional ships such as Al Samaa, the biggest diving ship, which is displayed in the centre of the museum hall, as well as pearls and diving tools.
For thousands of years the pearls of the Arabian Gulf were regarded as the finest in the world, and until the 20th century the major markets were both in Persia and India. Pearls also reached Europe via Turkey.
Manal pointed out that visitors will be able to see how life has changed since the 1960s, as interactive touch screens are available in Arabic and English that include interviews with boat builders, pearl traders and merchants.
"Welcome back, God is generous. Diving days are finished, God is generous," is one of the most famous pearling songs that were on display, which is part of the museum's aim to preserve the UAE marine heritage to educate the public and highlight the rich national heritage by showcasing famous songs and photographs of sailors and captains.
The museum has a spacious hall devoted to the presentation of models and photographs of various ships and sailing boats, fishing gear, fish, diving, and photographs, apart from the tools used in building different kinds of ships.
The museum also includes a gift shop with souvenirs related to maritime life.
By Mariam M. Al Serkal, Staff Reporter
Gulf News 2009. All rights reserved.
