UAE dhow race retraces centuries-old pearl diving route — in pictures

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  A sailor waits during sunrise for the start of the 95km Al Gaffal Dhow Race from Sir Bu Nuayr Island to Dubai. Some 120 traditional wooden boats competed in the Dh10 million race that commemorates the return of old pearling boats from the sea. Martin Dokoupil / EPA

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  Dhows compete in the long distance Al Gaffal Dhow Race. Martin Dokoupil / EPA

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  Dhows compete in the long distance Al Gaffal Dhow Race from Sir Bu Nuayr Island to Dubai. Martin Dokoupil / EPA

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  Dhows test their sails ahead of the start of Al Gaffal Dhow Race. Martin Dokoupil / EPA

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  Dhows compete at the start of the long distance Al Gaffal Dhow Race from Sir Bu Nuayr Island to Dubai. Some 120 traditional wooden boats competed in the Dh10 million race that commemorates the return of old pearling boats from the sea. Martin Dokoupil / EPA

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  Sailors aboard a dhow called Al Qumzi (No. 141) wait during sunrise for the start of the race. Martin Dokoupil / EPA

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  Sailors aboard a dhow called Muhajer (No. 60) replace their ripped sail. Martin Dokoupil / EPA

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  Skipper Khalifa Al Rumaithi watches his crew aboard a wooden dhow called Bin Ghazi (No. 180) as it competes in the long distance race. Martin Dokoupil / EPA

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  Wooden dhows sail towards the Moon Island checkpoint as they compete in the long distance Al Gaffal Dhow Race from Sir Bu Nuayr Island to Dubai. Martin Dokoupil / EPA

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  Sailors wait aboard their dhow for the start of the race which commemorates the return of old pearling boats from the sea. Martin Dokoupil / EPA

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  Sailors wait aboard their dhow for the start of the race. Martin Dokoupil / EPA

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  Sailors test their dhows during sunrise. Martin Dokoupil / EPA

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  Sailors aboard a dhow called Al Saroukh (No. 182) fold their sail during sunrise as they prepare for the start of the race. Martin Dokoupil / EPA

More than 120 traditional dhows retraced a centuries-old pearl diving route off the country’s coast on Sunday for an annual boat race. The Al Gaffal race, Arabic for the return, traces the path pearl-divers would take on their return home from a day at sea.