![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ODW6F7J5TZTFNJMXZVGCQF3FF4.jpg?smart=true&auth=5d008e6f049f794fb042ea60c63b6696590e64798bbed879380ed7df736a854f&width=400&height=225)
A worker chips away at some wood to repair part of the dhow, which needs occasional maintenance because it is completely handmade. Antonie Robertson / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KTS6JL3ERDZVRPHN6TDXWYOU4I.jpg?smart=true&auth=0d59f2a9d26e296c17ffc0e0bafa85eaa3ecb11c5146ab446d7b027abfcdb692&width=400&height=225)
Mohammed Obaid Al Falasi is co-owner of 'Obaid', the world's largest wooden dhow that is currently docked in Deira. Antonie Robertson / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IDFN5E5SVWSYOU44QNMDHAC4YA.jpg?smart=true&auth=722f1cccefc8b2437c2ceee327f83bcf746f6c443f5e2da1ac810c60dca2f85a&width=400&height=225)
The Obaid is the world's largest dhow and has just returned to Dubai from her maiden voyage to Yemen to deliver more than 600 cars. Antonie Robertson / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/S7G5HWQN56FWJXN5ZRV23RQ4TU.jpg?smart=true&auth=16395ef48b4afa26f7e478734d2ba0fa468503ab8513ff6d9821dfe25439c10a&width=400&height=225)
The dhow is 91 metres long, 20m wide and 11m high and was handmade using 1,700 tonnes of African teak wood and 800 tonnes of steel. Antonie Robertson / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VG7D7CW7WDMBBS42XVQU5DPEJA.jpg?smart=true&auth=580a4fdd00f9bcfaaba6b0dca8241a548fa8bfe72071bf3c815ac162934c3400&width=400&height=225)
Sixten crew members live onboard the ship. Here some of them are in the dhow's accommodation. Antonie Robertson / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Q736I3JJW72KA726NTRVMRZ24E.jpg?smart=true&auth=974d662b44924a28a4f291a8bb89ffcfabb90725def34618fd334308f5797a26&width=400&height=225)
Crew members within the gigantic hold that was filled with cars to be delivered to Yemen on the dhow's maiden voyage. Antonie Robertson / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WKGDWAUWACEBPY6YKL4A5LRKSM.jpg?smart=true&auth=82ba63d4c3a50e4ab24478a0383af152adac55db1ba335e42e8f1a41c7506490&width=400&height=225)
Engineers in the engine room with the two 16 cylinder Mitsubishi diesel engines. Antonie Robertson / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AXI4GWDPC7ZXKDI4OTCESHYUU4.jpg?smart=true&auth=315807fe233726d06f76f205235bcbddbc0abdfd1d873b305b44288c16ec7ec4&width=400&height=225)
Sixteen crew live onboard the dhow and work in shift rotations of six hours on and six hours off. Antonie Robertson / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DM3NRPRAPU4UHRVCJPCUVT3YWI.jpg?smart=true&auth=adbb692deee1f6392c9838d66ca5a9e4353be716615f55b9b6e280e25d22a260&width=400&height=225)
The dhow was handmade using 1,700 tonnes of African teak wood and 800 tonnes of steel. Antonie Robertson / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EDZAOV6GOORRGBP3HWMVDUMV6Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=8adabc539a424afa68e59b6bfac0e53bcb4a8298f84c5dfe6cefe6f1bd276ad0&width=400&height=225)
The 'Obaid' entered the Guinness World Records for being the largest wooden dhow. Antonie Robertson / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ODW6F7J5TZTFNJMXZVGCQF3FF4.jpg?smart=true&auth=5d008e6f049f794fb042ea60c63b6696590e64798bbed879380ed7df736a854f&width=400&height=225)
A worker chips away at some wood to repair part of the dhow, which needs occasional maintenance because it is completely handmade. Antonie Robertson / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KTS6JL3ERDZVRPHN6TDXWYOU4I.jpg?smart=true&auth=0d59f2a9d26e296c17ffc0e0bafa85eaa3ecb11c5146ab446d7b027abfcdb692&width=400&height=225)
Mohammed Obaid Al Falasi is co-owner of 'Obaid', the world's largest wooden dhow that is currently docked in Deira. Antonie Robertson / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IDFN5E5SVWSYOU44QNMDHAC4YA.jpg?smart=true&auth=722f1cccefc8b2437c2ceee327f83bcf746f6c443f5e2da1ac810c60dca2f85a&width=400&height=225)
The Obaid is the world's largest dhow and has just returned to Dubai from her maiden voyage to Yemen to deliver more than 600 cars. Antonie Robertson / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/S7G5HWQN56FWJXN5ZRV23RQ4TU.jpg?smart=true&auth=16395ef48b4afa26f7e478734d2ba0fa468503ab8513ff6d9821dfe25439c10a&width=400&height=225)
The dhow is 91 metres long, 20m wide and 11m high and was handmade using 1,700 tonnes of African teak wood and 800 tonnes of steel. Antonie Robertson / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VG7D7CW7WDMBBS42XVQU5DPEJA.jpg?smart=true&auth=580a4fdd00f9bcfaaba6b0dca8241a548fa8bfe72071bf3c815ac162934c3400&width=400&height=225)
Sixten crew members live onboard the ship. Here some of them are in the dhow's accommodation. Antonie Robertson / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Q736I3JJW72KA726NTRVMRZ24E.jpg?smart=true&auth=974d662b44924a28a4f291a8bb89ffcfabb90725def34618fd334308f5797a26&width=400&height=225)
Crew members within the gigantic hold that was filled with cars to be delivered to Yemen on the dhow's maiden voyage. Antonie Robertson / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WKGDWAUWACEBPY6YKL4A5LRKSM.jpg?smart=true&auth=82ba63d4c3a50e4ab24478a0383af152adac55db1ba335e42e8f1a41c7506490&width=400&height=225)
Engineers in the engine room with the two 16 cylinder Mitsubishi diesel engines. Antonie Robertson / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AXI4GWDPC7ZXKDI4OTCESHYUU4.jpg?smart=true&auth=315807fe233726d06f76f205235bcbddbc0abdfd1d873b305b44288c16ec7ec4&width=400&height=225)
Sixteen crew live onboard the dhow and work in shift rotations of six hours on and six hours off. Antonie Robertson / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DM3NRPRAPU4UHRVCJPCUVT3YWI.jpg?smart=true&auth=adbb692deee1f6392c9838d66ca5a9e4353be716615f55b9b6e280e25d22a260&width=400&height=225)
The dhow was handmade using 1,700 tonnes of African teak wood and 800 tonnes of steel. Antonie Robertson / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EDZAOV6GOORRGBP3HWMVDUMV6Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=8adabc539a424afa68e59b6bfac0e53bcb4a8298f84c5dfe6cefe6f1bd276ad0&width=400&height=225)
The 'Obaid' entered the Guinness World Records for being the largest wooden dhow. Antonie Robertson / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ODW6F7J5TZTFNJMXZVGCQF3FF4.jpg?smart=true&auth=5d008e6f049f794fb042ea60c63b6696590e64798bbed879380ed7df736a854f&width=400&height=225)
A worker chips away at some wood to repair part of the dhow, which needs occasional maintenance because it is completely handmade. Antonie Robertson / The National
Watch: inside the world's largest wooden dhow that is docked in Dubai
There are 16 crew on-board the 91 metre long vessel that just returned from a voyage to Yemen to deliver hundreds of cars
![Kelly Clarke](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F0d1398b1-947f-4bc8-a663-69c6b02cb849.png?smart=true&auth=168c867e0c9f9e3320a65ec2cb755dfde78d4c07327944646c4aad65792033ee&width=70&height=70)
Kelly Clarke
29 January, 2021
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