United Arab Emirates · Metalwork / Blacksmithing
Khanjar (the dagger); 'the chest' (the local term for the dagger's sheath)
The bespoke, made-to-order crafting of the khanjar, a short-bladed dagger that was an essential component of traditional Emirati men's attire, genuinely distinct from Saudi Arabia's own janbiyah/khanjar tradition (documented separately in this archive, CRAFT-2676) in specific local naming, construction convention, and institutional context. Each khanjar was historically made to order, with the craftsman and the intended owner directly negotiating and agreeing upon every design specification together -- a documented bespoke commissioning relationship distinguishing the craft from mass or speculative production. The finished dagger consists of four named component parts: the handle, typically fashioned from ivory or wood; the sheath, known locally as 'the chest'; the blade, made of gold or silver and bearing various inscriptions and decorations; and the belt, woven from cotton or natural leather and hand-embroidered with gold and silver thread, specifically described as representing the ultimate expression of the craft's overall craftsmanship. Dubai's Bayt Al Khanjar Museum, founded by researcher Abdullah Thani Al Matroushi, houses more than 1,500 photographs documenting the dagger's historical significance among the region's ruling families and a collection including some of the oldest surviving examples, dating back 80 years; the museum also organizes contemporary workshops teaching visitors to make daggers in their traditional forms. Named craftswoman Fatima, directly observed and described in a Gulf News feature on Dubai's Cultural Heritage and Programmes Department craft center, works silver dagger detail while wearing a traditional burqa face covering, carving fine patterns while following the design closely through spectacles -- a rare, directly documented instance of a named female practitioner in this traditionally male-associated craft category. Contemporary luxury workshops additionally produce fully hand-crafted ceremonial khanjar pieces incorporating 24-karat gold plating and natural crystals, extending the traditional form into a high-end collector market.
Risk level: Vulnerable · Not independently inscribed
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