Technology

Four Emirati high school students have developed an artificial intelligence-powered mobile application aimed at preserving the UAE’s traditional fishing practices and maritime heritage by transforming cultural artefacts into interactive digital experiences.

The students — Mohammed AlNuaimi and Khaled AlHammadi, both 17, along with 16-year-olds Saeed AlHashmi and Majid AlHammadi — spent two years creating Sanara, an iOS app that uses AI image recognition to identify marine-related objects and explain their historical and cultural significance. The app is named after the Arabic word for “fishing hook.”

Sanara allows users to scan objects such as fishing tools, seashells, and traditional dhows using their smartphone cameras. Once scanned, the app provides information about how these items were traditionally used and their role in shaping Emirati maritime life. For example, scanning a gargoor reveals details about the traditional fishing trap and its importance in coastal communities.

The students said their inspiration came from stories shared by their grandparents about fishing, pearl diving, and life at sea. These personal narratives motivated them to document and preserve maritime knowledge that is increasingly at risk of being lost with older generations.

Despite having no prior experience in Apple’s Swift programming language, the team learned it independently during development. Mohammed AlNuaimi noted that training the AI scanner was one of the most challenging aspects of the project, requiring multiple rounds of testing and model retraining to improve accuracy.

To ensure authenticity, the students conducted extensive field research. They visited heritage sites such as Emirates Heritage Village, interviewed elders including family members, and gathered firsthand accounts of traditional fishing and pearl diving techniques. The app pitch itself was recorded aboard a traditional dhow, reflecting the project’s cultural foundation.

Beyond its AI scanning feature, Sanara includes sections dedicated to pearl diving traditions, traditional Nahma sea chants, marine life education, and a heritage-based word game called Reef Words. Since its launch on the iOS App Store, the app has achieved approximately 1,000 downloads globally.

The project won the National iOS Design Competition organised by Sandooq Al Wattan, with the team presenting their work at an iOS design showcase held at ADNEC.

While the AI scanner remains in beta and continues to be refined, the students plan to further develop Sanara after graduation. Their long-term goal is to inspire young Emiratis to engage with their maritime heritage and ensure that the stories of the sea continue to be preserved for future generations.

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