Arab Dhow Sailing Vessel

Timeline

1. -100–600East coast of the Arabian Peninsula · OmanAlong the Indian Ocean coasts a coastal sailing tradition gradually took shape, characterized by lateen sails and stitched or nailed hulls, linking early maritime exchange networks of the Red Sea, Persian Gulf, and the west coast of the Indian subcontinent.
2. 700–1100Persian Gulf–west coast of India · Arabian SeaAfter the expansion of the Arab Empire, the dhow hull type operated at scale on the Basra–Hormuz–Gujarat routes, carrying the hajj, trade, and cultural transmission, with hull types and monsoon navigation knowledge systematized.
3. 1201–1500Mombasa–Aden–Calicut route · Indian OceanFrom the 13th to 15th centuries dhows plied East Africa, Yemen, and the Malabar Coast under the monsoon system, connecting with Song and Yuan maritime trade and African inland caravan routes, forming a key link in the Indian Ocean's multilateral trade circulation.
4. 1800Persian Gulf and East African coast · Arabian SeaAfter the age of steamships dhows remained active in coastal fisheries, pearl diving, and regional trade; today Gulf states preserve traditional boatbuilding crafts, with some hull types used for cultural display and coastal transport.