A dedicated maritime fishing zone is making its debut at the International Saudi Falcons and Hunting Exhibition 2026 in Riyadh, where a full-size sailing vessel anchors a space ringed by workshops for boat-building, net-weaving and rope-twisting, presented by craftsmen who have carried these trades across generations.
The zone is arranged to walk visitors through the stages of a traditional fishing voyage, with artisans working in public view as they shape wooden hulls, knot fishing nets and twist ropes by hand, while the vessel itself displays tools and objects once used on board, offering a live picture of how a crew lived and worked at sea.
Abdullah Al-Marwani, a boat carpenter who learned the craft from his father and grandfather, said his first participation in the exhibition allowed him to introduce a wider audience to the trade, noting visitors' engagement and their many questions about the miniature models he builds and about sail handling and old navigation methods. He stressed the importance of passing these skills to younger generations.
Nearby, Ahmed Mohammed Al-Qarni, whose experience in net-making spans nearly 50 years, demonstrates the craft in front of visitors and explains its tools and stages, pointing out that fishing gear has changed considerably over recent decades and that his presence at the show offers a direct, hands-on way to introduce younger visitors to how earlier generations fished.
Salem Alyan Al-Hamdi completes the scene with rope-twisting, showing the audience how cords are made by hand and how they were tied to boats, ships and the daily life of coastal communities. Abdulrahman Al-Marwani, supervisor of the maritime fishing zone, said the sea is being represented at the exhibition for the first time this year, noting that the concept of hunting extends beyond land to include the history, crafts, tools and knowledge passed down by coastal residents. The exhibition runs from 1 to 10 October at the Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Center in Malham, north of Riyadh, under the slogan "A Destination for Everyone."