Culture Club holds Jewel of Muscat event
The Cultural Club held an event yesterday evening about the historic sailing ship Jewel of Muscat.
Taking part in the event were Saleh Al Jabri, captain of the Jewel and researcher Habib Al Hadi.
Captain Saleh told the event that the design of the Jewel of Muscat was based on the “Belitung” wreck found in 1998 near Indonesia. The 9th Century ship was sailing along the Maritime Silk Road when it sank. On board the wreck divers found more than sixty thousand pieces of Chinese ceramics as well as gold and silver, now known as the Tang Treasure.
He explained that Omanis were known as adventurous sailors and skilled shipbuilders becoming an integral part of the maritime trade across the Indian Ocean. He also noted the role of the Omani navigator Ahmed bin Majid in helping Vasco de Gama during his voyage from Malindi on the East African coast to Malabar in India.
Captain Saleh also explained how Jewel of Muscat was a joint project between Oman and Singapore which began with a royal directive from His late Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said. After the ship was built in Oman it sailed to Singapore over 138 days where it was presented as a gift from His Majesty and the Omani people to the friendly Singaporean people.
Habib Al Hadi explained how Omani relations with Asia go back deep into human history, after Omanis started voyaging out the sea 7,000 years ago.
He said that one of the most important destinations for Omani ships was the Malay archipelago, in Southeast Asia. After setting out from the ports of Dibba, Sohar, Dam, Muscat, Sur, Mirbat, Sumharam and Raysut in Oman, ships like the Jewel of Muscat sailed to the ports of China along the maritime trade route known as the Silk Road, the Spice Road and the Frankincense Road.
Habib Al Hadi explained that, in addition to trade, the Omanis carried with them Islamic civilisation, the Arabic language and Arab customs, laying a foundation of friendship and brotherhood to relations with Asia.
The Jewel of Muscat project was supervised by the Foreign Ministry of Oman. More information about the historic voyage of the ship can be found on its website: https://jewelofmuscat.tv
This is an unofficial English translation of the original Arabic text. To view the official Arabic text, click here.