Dubai's ancient dhows look east to Iran and an end of sanctions
- 9 years ago
Since pearl fishing was Dubai’s main industry ancient wooden dhows have been the backbone of the mercantile trade between the Gulf state and Iran.
The trade increased with barely a pause for the 1979 Islamic revolution in Iran and the US sanctions imposed the same year, although the Iranian community in Dubai mushroomed after the fall of the Shah as people fled the mullahs.
International sanctions from 2013 changed things for the expats, some half a million of them.
“Actually in Dubai, they are living their own life. But it’s reducing a lot. I think it does change a lot of things. Normally dhows from Dubai, or cargos, 70 -80% of the cargos go to Iran. Since the sanctions nobody from Iran is buying the items here in Dubai or from other places to transit to Dubai,” says Sawan Trading Entreprises’ Iman Motameni.
It is the second-largest Iranian community outside Iran after the USA, and the bilateral trade with home, just a 10-hour voyage away, may total as much as 1% of Dubai’s GD
The trade increased with barely a pause for the 1979 Islamic revolution in Iran and the US sanctions imposed the same year, although the Iranian community in Dubai mushroomed after the fall of the Shah as people fled the mullahs.
International sanctions from 2013 changed things for the expats, some half a million of them.
“Actually in Dubai, they are living their own life. But it’s reducing a lot. I think it does change a lot of things. Normally dhows from Dubai, or cargos, 70 -80% of the cargos go to Iran. Since the sanctions nobody from Iran is buying the items here in Dubai or from other places to transit to Dubai,” says Sawan Trading Entreprises’ Iman Motameni.
It is the second-largest Iranian community outside Iran after the USA, and the bilateral trade with home, just a 10-hour voyage away, may total as much as 1% of Dubai’s GD