For 77-year-old Mohammed Saeed Al Zaabi, the ocean is more than just a workplace; it is a canvas of harrowing survival and enduring tradition. Reflecting on a life spent traversing the waters between Oman and Dubai, he vividly recounts a terrifying ordeal from the early 2000s when a violent storm nearly claimed his boat. For six grueling hours, Al Zaabi and his crew fought against rising waters and ferocious winds, a memory that stands out as a stark reminder of the sea’s unpredictable power. Having spent over four decades mastering the Arabian Gulf, he notes that while the introduction of motorized vessels has transformed the industry by allowing fishermen to return home by evening rather than staying out for days, his deep-rooted connection to the water remains unchanged.

Beyond his personal history, Al Zaabi has become a guardian of vanishing maritime heritage. At a recent gathering at Dubai’s Waterfront Market, he showcased an array of handmade fishing gear—from traditional gargoor traps to complex, hand-woven nets—that he has spent nearly half a century crafting himself. Each tool reflects a time when patience and manual precision were essential for survival, with some nets taking up to six months of meticulous work to complete. Although he no longer relies on fishing for his livelihood, Al Zaabi continues to head out on the water as a hobby, ensuring that the legacy of his ancestors remains alive both through the physical tools he builds and the stories he shares with the next generation.