Four Emirati high school students have created an AI-powered mobile appthat brings the UAE’s maritime heritage to life, turning traditional fishing tools and seashells into interactive sources of cultural storytelling. This helps preserve maritime heritage of fading with older generations.

Mohammed AlNuaimi and Khaled AlHammadi, both 17, along with 16-year-olds Saeed AlHashmi and Majid AlHammadi, spent two years building Sanara — an iOS app that uses artificial intelligence to scan objects like dhows and fishing gear, instantly revealing their historical significance and cultural stories.

“We grew up hearing stories from our grandparents about the sea, fishing, and pearl diving. Those stories made us curious to learn more about the ocean’s role in shaping Emirati life,” the Grade 12 Applied Technology High School students told Khaleej Times about their motivation.

Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels.

Named after the Arabic word for “fishing hook,” Sanara allows users to scan marine-related objects using their phone’s camera. The app then explains how these items were traditionally used and why they matter to Emirati culture. For instance, scanning a gargoor reveals the traditional fishing trap’s role in Emirati maritime history.

Despite having no prior experience in Swift, Apple’s iOS programming language, the students learned it from scratch while building the app. “The biggest challenge was getting the AI scanner to work properly. It took us about two weeks of trial and error, retraining the model multiple times,” Mohammed said.

Their research extended well beyond online sources. The team visited Emirates Heritage Village, interviewed elders including their own fathers and grandfathers, and even recorded their app pitch on a traditional dhow while wearing fisherman attire.

“They shared detailed knowledge about fishing and pearl diving tools and techniques that they and their elders used. This feedback helped us improve and expand the app’s content,” Majid said.

In addition to the AI scanner, Sanara features sections on pearl diving traditions, traditional Nahma chants, marine life, and a heritage-themed word game called Reef Words based on heritage vocabulary. Since its launch on the iOS App Store, the app has recorded around 1,000 downloads worldwide.

“Users liked how the app combines modern technology with Emirati heritage,” Majid said.

The project won the National iOS Design Competition organized by Sandooq Al Wattan, with the team presenting at ADNEC’s iOS design showcase.

“We hope young Emiratis learn more about the UAE’s marine heritage and feel proud of it. We also want them to see us as motivation and proof that if you set your mind to something, you can achieve it,” the students said.

While the AI scanner is still in beta and occasionally misidentifies objects, the students continue to refine the technology. They plan to further develop and expand the app after graduating, hoping it will inspire young Emiratis to connect with their maritime roots — and ensure the stories of the sea live on for generations to come.