Umluj Craftsman Revives Maritime Heritage with Traditional Ship Models

   Umluj, December 15, 2025, SPA -- Saudi craftsman Abdulaziz Al-Halwani in Umluj, Tabuk Region, is preserving the rich maritime history of the Red Sea by transforming the traditional craft of building sailing ships into intricate artistic models, documenting a heritage that has been intertwined with the lives of the region's inhabitants for decades.
   Working from his modest workshop, Al-Halwani revives the history of Umluj, once a thriving center for shipbuilding and maritime trade. These traditional sailing ships were essential for transporting goods and construction materials along the Kingdom’s coasts and to regional ports, reflecting the deep bond between the coastal community and the sea. Al-Halwani learned the fundamentals of the craft in his youth from renowned shipbuilders, acquiring the skills that enabled him to master the intricacies of this meticulous traditional industry.
   With the advent of modern transportation and the decline in the use of traditional sailing vessels, Al-Halwani shifted his focus to documenting this history. He crafts detailed models of ancient ships using the same local wood and inherited construction techniques, creating visual testaments to an important historical period. Coinciding with the Year of Handicrafts in the Kingdom, he emphasizes that these models are a testimony to the past and a means of preserving maritime heritage, hoping his work will introduce new generations to their nautical history and highlight the prominent role of Umluj and the Kingdom’s coasts in navigation and maritime trade.
   -- SPA