Traditional 'meshhouf' boats in the Tigris river in Baghdad. All photos: AFP
Traditional 'meshhouf' boats in the Tigris river in Baghdad. All photos: AFP
The elongated boats with tapered bows and sterns have been around since the time of the Sumerians, said Rashad Salim
The elongated boats with tapered bows and sterns have been around since the time of the Sumerians, said Rashad Salim
But they are now outnumbered by motorised vessels and threatened by droughts linked to climate change
But they are now outnumbered by motorised vessels and threatened by droughts linked to climate change
Iraq must save 'from extinction an essential facet of our civilisation which has existed for four or five millenia', said Mr Salim
Iraq must save 'from extinction an essential facet of our civilisation which has existed for four or five millenia', said Mr Salim
The 62-year-old is the co-founder of Safina Projects, which works to preserve Iraq's traditional boating culture
The 62-year-old is the co-founder of Safina Projects, which works to preserve Iraq's traditional boating culture
Five years ago, Mr Salim set out to find Iraq's last meshhouf makers, locating them in Huweir on the edge of the Mesopotamian Marshes
Five years ago, Mr Salim set out to find Iraq's last meshhouf makers, locating them in Huweir on the edge of the Mesopotamian Marshes
He put in orders to make more, then went to nautical clubs to arrange teaching for young people on how to navigate the gondola-like vessels
He put in orders to make more, then went to nautical clubs to arrange teaching for young people on how to navigate the gondola-like vessels
His efforts led to a flotilla of 18 taking to the Tigris in Baghdad as part of a cultural festival
His efforts led to a flotilla of 18 taking to the Tigris in Baghdad as part of a cultural festival
The meshhouf is part of the history and heritage of the country, said sailor Omar Youssef, 21
The meshhouf is part of the history and heritage of the country, said sailor Omar Youssef, 21
Seven meshhouf clubs have been founded, with funding from Britain and the Aliph Foundation, which protects cultural heritage in conflict zones
Seven meshhouf clubs have been founded, with funding from Britain and the Aliph Foundation, which protects cultural heritage in conflict zones
In this picture taken on April 29, 2023 a man rows a newly-constructed traditional "meshhouf" wooden boat in the area of al-Huwair in the sub-district of al-Madinah in Iraq's southern Basra province. A flotilla of traditional wooden boats piloted by young Iraqis makes its way along Baghdad's Tigris river, revealing a glimpse of the now drought-stricken country's ancient waterborne heritage. Once a fixture on Iraq's rivers and marshes, the elongated boats with tapered ends, known as "meshhouf", have been present "since the time of the Sumerians", says organiser Rashad Salim -- but their continued existence is threatened by modern technology and the impacts of climate change. (Photo by Asaad NIAZI / AFP)
In this picture taken on April 29, 2023 a man rows a newly-constructed traditional "meshhouf" wooden boat in the area of al-Huwair in the sub-district of al-Madinah in Iraq's southern Basra province. A flotilla of traditional wooden boats piloted by young Iraqis makes its way along Baghdad's Tigris river, revealing a glimpse of the now drought-stricken country's ancient waterborne heritage. Once a fixture on Iraq's rivers and marshes, the elongated boats with tapered ends, known as "meshhouf", have been present "since the time of the Sumerians", says organiser Rashad Salim -- but their continued existence is threatened by modern technology and the impacts of climate change. (Photo by Asaad NIAZI / AFP)
In 1977, Mr Salim was the youngest crew member aboard the Tigris, a ship built from reeds by Norwegian adventurer Thor Heyerdahl
In 1977, Mr Salim was the youngest crew member aboard the Tigris, a ship built from reeds by Norwegian adventurer Thor Heyerdahl
His ambition is to find a business plan to make his project financially viable and create jobs
His ambition is to find a business plan to make his project financially viable and create jobs
Traditional boat builder Zouheir Raisan, 40, lives by the marshes in Huweir, 400km south of Baghdad
Traditional boat builder Zouheir Raisan, 40, lives by the marshes in Huweir, 400km south of Baghdad
The father of eight welcomes a revival in the business, which supplements his main job as a lorry driver
The father of eight welcomes a revival in the business, which supplements his main job as a lorry driver
He said he remembers helping his father and brothers make meshhoufs, some of them 11 metres long
He said he remembers helping his father and brothers make meshhoufs, some of them 11 metres long
Other countries, Mr Raisan said, are sending experts 'in search of this heritage, to encourage its rebirth'
Other countries, Mr Raisan said, are sending experts 'in search of this heritage, to encourage its rebirth'
'Why don't we bring it back to life ourselves?'
'Why don't we bring it back to life ourselves?'

MENA

Iraq

Against the tide: Iraqi artist battles to save boating tradition - in pictures

Young people celebrate ancient heritage in country hit by drought

The National

May 22, 2023

  • English
  • Arabic

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Iraq will only be able to meet 15% of its water needs by 2035, UN official warns

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Company profile

Date started: December 24, 2018

Founders: Omer Gurel, chief executive and co-founder and Edebali Sener, co-founder and chief technology officer

Based: Dubai Media City

Number of employees: 42 (34 in Dubai and a tech team of eight in Ankara, Turkey)

Sector: ConsumerTech and FinTech

Cashflow: Almost $1 million a year

Funding: Series A funding of $2.5m with Series B plans for May 2020

In Full Flight: A Story of Africa and Atonement
John Heminway, Knopff

SPECS
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While you're here
more from Janine di Giovanni
Our legal columnist

Name: Yousef Al Bahar

Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994

Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers

Details

Through Her Lens: The stories behind the photography of Eva Sereny

Forewords by Jacqueline Bisset and Charlotte Rampling, ACC Art Books

UAE currency
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Players Selected for La Liga Trials

U18 Age Group
Name: Ahmed Salam (Malaga)
Position: Right Wing
Nationality: Jordanian

Name: Yahia Iraqi (Malaga)
Position: Left Wing
Nationality: Morocco

Name: Mohammed Bouherrafa (Almeria)
Position: Centre-Midfield
Nationality: French

Name: Mohammed Rajeh (Cadiz)
Position: Striker
Nationality: Jordanian

U16 Age Group
Name: Mehdi Elkhamlichi (Malaga)
Position: Lead Striker
Nationality: Morocco

Remaining Fixtures

Wednesday: West Indies v Scotland
Thursday: UAE v Zimbabwe
Friday: Afghanistan v Ireland
Sunday: Final

Pharaoh's curse

British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.

While you're here
ELIO

Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett

Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina

Rating: 4/5

The specs

AT4 Ultimate, as tested

Engine: 6.2-litre V8

Power: 420hp

Torque: 623Nm

Transmission: 10-speed automatic

Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)

On sale: Now

Europe wide
Some of French groups are threatening Friday to continue their journey to Brussels, the capital of Belgium and the European Union, and to meet up with drivers from other countries on Monday.

Belgian authorities joined French police in banning the threatened blockade. A similar lorry cavalcade was planned for Friday in Vienna but cancelled after authorities prohibited it.

Green ambitions
  • Trees: 1,500 to be planted, replacing 300 felled ones, with veteran oaks protected
  • Lake: Brown's centrepiece to be cleaned of silt that makes it as shallow as 2.5cm
  • Biodiversity: Bat cave to be added and habitats designed for kingfishers and little grebes
  • Flood risk: Longer grass, deeper lake, restored ponds and absorbent paths all meant to siphon off water 
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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THE SPECS

      

 

Engine: 1.5-litre

 

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

 

Power: 110 horsepower 

 

Torque: 147Nm 

 

Price: From Dh59,700 

 

On sale: now  

 
Global institutions: BlackRock and KKR

US-based BlackRock is the world's largest asset manager, with $5.98 trillion of assets under management as of the end of last year. The New York firm run by Larry Fink provides investment management services to institutional clients and retail investors including governments, sovereign wealth funds, corporations, banks and charitable foundations around the world, through a variety of investment vehicles.

KKR & Co, or Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, is a global private equity and investment firm with around $195 billion of assets as of the end of last year. The New York-based firm, founded by Henry Kravis and George Roberts, invests in multiple alternative asset classes through direct or fund-to-fund investments with a particular focus on infrastructure, technology, healthcare, real estate and energy.

 

While you're here
The biog

From: Upper Egypt

Age: 78

Family: a daughter in Egypt; a son in Dubai and his wife, Nabila

Favourite Abu Dhabi activity: walking near to Emirates Palace

Favourite building in Abu Dhabi: Emirates Palace

More coverage from the Future Forum
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
F1 The Movie

Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Rating: 4/5

The specs

Engine: 8.0-litre, quad-turbo 16-cylinder

Transmission: 7-speed auto

0-100kmh 2.3 seconds

0-200kmh 5.5 seconds

0-300kmh 11.6 seconds

Power: 1500hp

Torque: 1600Nm

Price: Dh13,400,000

On sale: now

MATCH INFO

Watford 2 (Sarr 50', Deeney 54' pen)

Manchester United 0

Tailors and retailers miss out on back-to-school rush

Tailors and retailers across the city said it was an ominous start to what is usually a busy season for sales.
With many parents opting to continue home learning for their children, the usual rush to buy school uniforms was muted this year.
“So far we have taken about 70 to 80 orders for items like shirts and trousers,” said Vikram Attrai, manager at Stallion Bespoke Tailors in Dubai.
“Last year in the same period we had about 200 orders and lots of demand.
“We custom fit uniform pieces and use materials such as cotton, wool and cashmere.
“Depending on size, a white shirt with logo is priced at about Dh100 to Dh150 and shorts, trousers, skirts and dresses cost between Dh150 to Dh250 a piece.”

A spokesman for Threads, a uniform shop based in Times Square Centre Dubai, said customer footfall had slowed down dramatically over the past few months.

“Now parents have the option to keep children doing online learning they don’t need uniforms so it has quietened down.”

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs

Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8

Power: 640hp

Torque: 760nm

On sale: 2026

Price: Not announced yet

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Updated: May 22, 2023, 9:09 AM`
Middle EastIraq