Abu Dhabi, UAE, 4 July 2024: An 18-metre long reproduction of a Magan boat has successfully sailed off the coast of Abu Dhabi, marking a major milestone for Zayed National Museum’s research programme. The project is a collaborative initiative with Zayed University and New York University Abu Dhabi (NYU Abu Dhabi) which seeks to shed light on the UAE’s rich maritime heritage and Bronze Age trade.

The vessel, called a Magan Boat in ancient times, was built with raw materials described on an ancient clay tablet and using techniques dating back to 2100 BCE. The boat passed several rigorous tests and covered 50 nautical miles (92.6km) in the Arabian Gulf. Captained by UAE National sailors with a team of shipwrights from the broader region and accompanied by the UAE Coastguard, the ship passed two days of sea trials, reaching speeds of up to 5.6 knots under a sail made of goat hair.