“Economy and Tourism”: an ancient national profession and a main source of livelihood

235 licenses working in the manufacture and trade of ships and boats in Dubai

The people of the Emirates depended on the manufacture and trade of local boats during a long period of time.

From the source

Sameh Awadallah À DubaiA report issued by the Commercial Registration and Licensing Sector at the Department of Economy and Tourism in Dubai stated that the total number of effective licenses in the field of boat manufacturing and trade in the Emirate of Dubai amounts to 235 licenses, comprising a number of activities, namely: the activity of «trading ships and boats». With a total of 177 licenses, the activity of “boat manufacturing” (39 licenses), and the activity of “manufacturing ships and wooden boats” (19 licenses).

The report pointed out that the figures confirm the extent of the interest of the leadership, the government and national institutions in this vital sector, since the trade and manufacture of boats constitute an old national profession, and a pattern of living of the people of the Emirates, especially the grandparents who depended for a long period of time on this local industry, in addition to Fishing, intra- and foreign trade, and it was a major source of their livelihood.

Distribution of licenses

The report highlighted the distribution of effective licenses in the field of boat manufacturing and trade, according to the main regions in the Emirate of Dubai. The largest share was the "Bur Dubai" region with a total of 182 licenses, then the "Deira" region with a total of 53 licenses.

As for the distribution of licenses to the highest sub-areas, they were: Al Jaddaf, Burj Khalifa, First Dubai Investments Park, Al Karama, Al Barsha First, Port Saeed, Al Quoz Industrial Three, Naif, and Oud Metha.

Legal form

The report indicated that limited liability companies accounted for 74% of the total effective licenses in the field of boat manufacturing and trading according to the legal form, while individual institutions accounted for 14%, and limited liability companies - one person 10%.

The rest of the list of legal forms included: branches of companies/establishments based in a free zone, and branches of companies based in another emirate.

Emirati industry

The report referred to the Obaid Bin Juma Bin Salloum Ship and Wooden Boat Industry, which is considered one of the most prominent factories, as it was established in the sixties by the late Obaid Juma Bin Majid Al Falasi, may God have mercy on him, and was officially registered in 1972, that is, nearly 50 years ago .

The owner of the Obaid bin Juma bin Salloum Foundation, Majid Obaid Al Falasi, said: “My father, may God have mercy on him, was an Emirati sailor and shipbuilder. In modern and distinct forms, we were alone in this industry, and we competed with international yachts in it, as we exported these yachts to Italy, Holland and France.”

The steamer "Obeid"

Al Falasi revealed that the wooden ship “Obeid” won the title of the largest Arab wooden ship in the world, after breaking the record, according to the Guinness Book of Records.

He continued: "Work on that ship took about four years, and more than 25 workers worked on its implementation. Its height was more than 11 meters, and it weighed more than 2,500 tons, as it formed more than 1,700 tons of wood and about 800 tons of iron, and it is capable of It can carry a load of more than 6000 tons.

Al Falasi confirmed that his intention was not to achieve the achievement of obtaining the world title only, but rather in honor of his late father Obaid Juma bin Majid Al Falasi, as he said: “My father personally worked in the shipbuilding profession throughout his life, and this ship is my appreciation to him and my country, the UAE, which always aspires to be At the forefront and at the forefront of the world's countries in various fields.

I am happy to see my son's passion for this craft, he sees what I do and knows what his grandfather was doing, and most importantly, his desire to pass this authentic profession to the next generations.

We hope to establish a museum or organize workshops to teach young people, especially future generations, the profession of their grandparents, because our motto is (the profession of grandparents is inherited by the grandchildren).

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