Mohammed Saeed Al Zaabi, who has fished for more than 45 years, shares how motorised boats changed life at sea as Dubai begins its new fishing calendar.
Dubai Fishing Season Begins at Waterfront Market
The 2026–2027 Dubai fishing season officially started on Wednesday, 4 November, at Waterfront Market. One of the guests was Mohammed Saeed Al Zaabi, a 77-year-old fisherman with decades of stories from the sea. His journey shows how much the Dubai fishing season, and the trade behind it, has changed.
What Happened at the Dubai Fishing Season Ceremony
The event brought together members of the fishing community and industry representatives. It marked the start of the Dubai fishing season and highlighted the emirate’s fishing traditions.
Al Zaabi spoke to Khaleej Times at the ceremony. He no longer fishes professionally, yet the sea keeps calling him back.
Meet the Veteran at the Heart of the Dubai Fishing Season
Al Zaabi comes from Oman. Over four decades and more, he has worked the Arabian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.
Even now, he goes out to fish as a hobby.
When the Sea Turned Dangerous: A Dubai Fishing Season Memory
His worst moment came in the early 2000s, while sailing from Salalah in Oman to Dubai. Midway, a storm struck his boat. The winds were fierce, and water started coming in.
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Everyone on board was exhausted. The struggle lasted nearly six hours before the storm weakened and the crew survived.
How Motorised Boats Changed the Dubai Fishing Season
Before engines, a fishing trip could stretch over several days. Boats were sail-powered and heavy work to handle, and the weather decided when you got home.
Motorised boats changed that. In his words, “everything became easier.” Fishermen can now leave in the morning and be home by evening.
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Keeping Heritage Alive at the Dubai Fishing Season Event
Around him at the market sat nets, traps, ropes and diving gear, much of it made by his own hands. One piece was a gargoor, a trap that fish swim into easily but struggle to leave.
None of it is quick work. A large net takes about six months to finish, then lasts five to six years. He also described the old sailing routine: sails up to reach the fishing spot, then down while the nets went in.
Why the Dubai Fishing Season Matters
Stories like Al Zaabi’s connect today’s Dubai fishing season with the past. They show how technology has made fishing safer and faster. His work also makes a case for keeping these old skills going.
For fishermen, the opening is about business, but it is also about heritage.
Conclusion
As the Dubai fishing season gets under way, Al Zaabi’s story offers a link between old and new. A storm, a handmade net and a lifelong love of the sea sum up what the season stands for.
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