Qatar 365: Discover the ancient traditions of Sadu weaving, sword making and falconry

For centuries, traditional Bedouin textiles kept the nomadic tribes of the Middle East warm through the cold desert nights. Woven in the 'Al Sadu’ style, or the art of weaving horizontally, Bedouin women have been practising this age-old fine art for generations.

However, this rare style of weaving was added to UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2020 to prevent the tradition from dying out.

A group of master Sadu weavers in the Arabian Peninsula are now fighting to preserve these unique handicrafts. Maytha Saed D Abusalaa has been weaving for 30 years, in Qatar alone there are less than 40 master weavers left.

"My experience began at home. I saw my mother working on Sadu and my grandmother, as well as the women in the neighbourhood. I took this heritage from them" she said.

Sadu masters make it look easy. But this style of weaving is a labour of love, from the yarns chosen to the geometric pattern design and the striking colours. A piece can take as much as a day to a whole year to complete, depending on how intricate the design is and its size. 

In a race against time, the Caravane Earth Foundation, an NGO promoting social, cultural and ecological transformation, has set up an initiative to empower and support Sadu weavers so that they can continue honing their craft.

Caravane Earth set up a creative residency programme with Qatar’s Heenat Salma Farm, a multidisciplinary project dedicated to eco-conscious traditions in northwest Doha. In joining forces, the founders are hoping to widen the search and find as many Sadu weavers as possible.

"They welcomed us to their own homes. We sat with their children, with their families and they shared their whole life experiences and the spiritual wisdom they have gained