Dubai Students' App Rescues Marine Heritage

Sanara: A Dubai Student Team Saving Marine Heritage with an App

Technology doesn't just point to the future, but it's also capable of preserving the values of the past – this is demonstrated by the story of four young Emirati students, who developed a unique mobile application from Dubai to preserve the forgotten treasures of marine heritage. The app named Sanara uses artificial intelligence to breathe new life into traditional fishing tools, boats, and shells – along with the stories associated with them. The goal is nothing less than saving the grandparents' sea-related tales from oblivion.

Digitalizing Marine Culture: A Generational Mission

The sea has always played a central role in the history of the United Arab Emirates – particularly through pearl diving, fishing, and marine trade. However, due to modernization and generational changes, these stories are increasingly fading. The developers of Sanara – four high school students – aim to halt this process. The app's name is derived from the Arabic word for 'fishing hook,' and it offers precisely that connection: linking young people with the heritage of the past.

The idea was based on their own experiences. The students often listened to their grandparents' marine stories – about fishing boats, storms, and pearl searching. These experiences inspired them to use a technological tool to help memories endure.

Artificial Intelligence in Service of History

The Sanara application is designed for iOS and has a unique feature: it allows users to scan various marine objects with their phone's camera – like a traditional fishing tool called a gargoor – and the app instantly presents its history, cultural significance, and traditional usage. This provides not only an educational but also an extremely entertaining way to explore the Emirates' past through digital tools.

Applying artificial intelligence posed significant technical challenges for the young developers, who admitted to having no prior experience in Swift, the language necessary for iOS development. It took two years of learning, coding, troubleshooting, and testing for the system to reliably recognize different objects. During the project, they not only used online resources but also visited the Heritage Village museum in person and talked with several elderly fishermen and pearl divers – including their own family members.

Beyond Objects: Games, Songs, and Marine Life

Sanara is not just an object recognition application. The developers placed particular emphasis on providing a multi-layered cultural experience. It features a section on traditional sea songs called Nahma, species identification of marine life, and a game called 'Reef Words,' which is based on the UAE's marine vocabulary. The goal: to educate and entertain simultaneously, while users inadvertently grow closer to the Emirati identity.

Since its launch, the app has registered nearly 1,000 downloads worldwide. Feedback indicates that many users appreciate the harmonious realization of modern technology and ancient traditions. The project even received first place in the National iOS Design Competition organized by Sandooq Al Wattan and was showcased at the ADNEC exhibition center.

An Exemplary Initiative: The Future is in Their Hands

The developers of Sanara have created more than just an app. They set an example that technology doesn't necessarily lead only to the future but can also bridge the past and the present. This can help strengthen community memory and contribute to the re-interpretation of cultural identity.

The team continues to develop the application: the artificial intelligence is currently running in beta, so occasional inaccuracies in recognition still occur. However, the students plan to continue the project after high school and even expand its functions to include as many marine tools and stories in the app as possible. Their goal is to inspire other young people to discover the UAE's marine heritage and be proud of it.

Summary

Sanara is not just an application but a generational message: we must value our roots, stories, and traditions. In a world where technology often drives us apart from each other and our past, these young people have shown that when used wisely, it can achieve quite the opposite. The initiative from Dubai is a great example that preserving cultural heritage requires not only museums but also dedicated young people and creative ideas.

(Source: Based on a student initiative.)