Meet the Emiratis with a reputation as one of the top knife manufacturers in the UAE

When Abdullah Ahmed was in his Ras Al Khaimah In the workshop, time stands still.

young people United Arab Emirates Get lost in a quiet world of carving, grinding and filing, away from the outside world of endless distractions.

As one of the few UAE knife makers, Mr Ahmed, 26, is carving out a niche to become United Arab Emiratesof top craftsmen.

His line of knives has been the star attraction of the year Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (Adihex)at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.

Just two years ago, this was still a dream. After graduating from university, facing a world locked down by Covid-19, Mr Al Ahmed revived his earlier passion for knife making, which was inspired by his father’s collection of camping knives.

“When I was growing up, he gave me a multi-tool as a gift, and my enthusiasm has grown since that day,” he said.

“Day by day, I started to learn more about how knives are made. I watched videos and learned about the process and the different materials and different styles. The first knife I made was in 2011 – it It’s not like what you see today,” he said with a smile.

Mr Ahmed turned a room in his Al Rufa home into a workshop when the pandemic led to lockdowns and border closures.

“I went to a small room in the back of our house and started making a knife,” he said.

“My friends play video games and they love it, but for me it’s a completely different situation. I don’t like wasting time.”

Steel – such as stainless, carbon and Damascus – arrives at his workshop in sheet form, which he then cuts and grinds into his desired designs.

It then goes through a complex heating and cooling process to ensure the correct hardness.

“It’s called a tempering cycle,” he said. “The knife can’t be too soft or too hard so it stays sharp for a long time.”

The material of the handle, such as desert ironwood, is also blocky and hand-carved.

Some handles come in different colors and designs, such as speckles of crushed carbon fiber embedded in the handle.

“Every knife is different,” said Mr. Al Ahmed, who picked up one at his Adihex booth to demonstrate this.

“All blades are different, and the shape and color of the handle are different. They can’t be the same.”

When he was in the workshop, Mr. Ahmed was lost in his own world. It takes at least two weeks to make a knife, five hours a day.

Time stands still, and the pressures of modern life seem to be gone. It’s a painstaking process of cutting, sanding, heating, filing, sharpening and buffering.

“The phone is off and I have nothing,” he said.

“I didn’t even know the time. Suddenly it was midnight and the time passed like the click of a finger because I was so focused I couldn’t feel the time.”

What started two years ago with a dream of investing a few thousand dirhams has now grown into a full-fledged company called Oryx Custom Knives.

it was inspired by arabian antelope The logo he designed himself is a modernist interpretation of a well-known antelope species native to the region Arabian Peninsula.

“I want something that has a connection to our country,” he said.

He sells a wide variety of knives, from gadgets suitable for camping to cooking blades inspired by Japanese chef’s knives. Each piece is proudly emblazoned with the words “Made in the UAE”.

Prices start from a few hundred dirhams and Mr Al Ahmed’s favourite is the Al Solai collection. These sell for around Dh900 ($245) and are named after a local term for a young antelope.

One of the most expensive knives he had on display was made of Damascus steel – famous for its swirl patterns – and sold for thousands of dirhams.

At Mr. Al Ahmed’s booth in Adihex, there was a steady stream of visitors looking for more than just mass-produced knives.

His passion for his craft was palpable and he spent a lot of time on the booth with every potential client. By Wednesday, he had sold at least half of his stock. Knives are only available for direct purchase, and an Instagram page helps showcase the product.

Mr. Al Ahmed has invested in machines including drill presses, kilns and abrasive belts to complement the hand tools he uses, but Oryx custom knives remain a part-time job.

On Monday, Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, the ruler’s representative in Al Dhafra, stopped at his booth and urged him to keep working.

“You can imagine the situation,” Mr Ahmed said of Sheikh Hamdan’s visit.

“He asked a lot of questions and pushed me forward. He told me I needed to keep going. We needed knife makers.

“I’m proud. I feel honored. Now I have a big responsibility.”

Adihex will remain open at Adnec in Abu Dhabi until 2 October.For more information visit www.adihex.com

Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition – Photo

Updated: 10/1/2022 9:14am