Wooden Backgammon Set Hand Carved - Burj Al Arab

Wooden Backgammon Set Hand Carved - Burj Al Arab, by Hrachya Ohanyan

Dubai, carved in beech. The sail of the Burj Al Arab rises in the round rope-ringed frame on the cover, its curved façade cut in fine horizontal courses, a palm tree leaning in beside it and the water lapping at its base — all in relief on a stippled ground, between lobed panels of carved lattice inside a beaded border. Master Hrachya Ohanyan kept the outline classic and square and finished the wood in a warm honey brown that catches the light the way the Gulf does at six in the evening. A handmade wooden backgammon set hand-carved from a single piece of wood, 23.6″ / 60 cm, for the person who left a piece of their heart on Jumeirah beach.

Undo the cast-bronze clasps and the 23.6″ / 60 cm hand-carved wooden backgammon board answers the cover from inside: the Palm Jumeirah, fronds and crescent, in pale wood at the heart of each half, pale points tipped with carved fleur-de-lys flourishes and ornate bronze hinges on the centre bar. Thirty-two checkers in light and dark wood, a dice set and the branded carrying case come with it. This is the handmade backgammon board for the expat's living room, the majlis, and the Friday-night table that stretches past midnight.

Specifications

• Size open: 60 × 60 cm / 23.6″ × 23.6″
• Size folded: 60 × 30 cm / 23.6″ × 11.8″
• Material: beech wood, carved from one piece, stained honey brown and varnished
• Motif: the Burj Al Arab with palm trees carved in relief inside a round rope-ringed frame on a stippled ground; lobed lattice panels, beaded border; the Palm Jumeirah in pale wood and fleur-de-lys points inside
• Outline: classic, with carved stepped edges
• Hardware: cast-bronze hinges and clasps
• Entirely handmade by Hrachya Ohanyan

What's Included

• Backgammon board with bronze hinges and clasps
• 32 checkers made from beech and walnut wood, with velvet bases
• Dice set
• Branded carrying case

Why You'll Love It

• Dubai on both faces of the game: the Burj Al Arab on the cover and the Palm Jumeirah inside — the two shapes everyone recognises, worked by hand in the Hrachya Ohanyan workshop, and no two boards come out the same.
• Carving you can feel: the courses of the sail, the palm fronds and the lattice panels all stand off the ground under your fingertips.
• Ready for the table: full-size 23.6″ / 60 cm board, checkers in light and dark wood, dice and a carrying case — open it and play.

Good to Know Before You Buy

How big is it? Open, the board is 23.6″ / 60 cm square — the standard full size for a living-room table. Closed, it is 23.6″ × 11.8″ / 60 × 30 cm and stands on its own edge.

Is the carving real? Yes. The Burj Al Arab, the palms, the lattice, the rope and beaded borders and the flourishes on the points are all cut into the wood by hand, not printed or pressed. The Palm inside is pale beech left bare against the honey stain, under the varnish.

What about shipping and returns? Shipping is free to the US, Canada and Europe, always tracked; other countries pay a flat $100 (Brazil, Chile and New Zealand $200). Every set is covered by our 30-day returns.

Can I add a name or a date? Yes — choose the engraving option on this page and tell us the text. A name or a date turns it into a personalized backgammon set, and it is the detail people remember years later.

How do I look after it? Keep it out of direct sun and away from radiators, wipe with a dry soft cloth, and store it closed in the case.

The Sail and the Palm

The Burj Al Arab opened in 1999 on its own island 280 metres off Jumeirah beach, shaped like the sail of a dhow and, at 321 metres, one of the tallest hotels on earth; within a few years it was the picture the whole world used for Dubai. The Palm Jumeirah followed in the 2000s — a palm tree of reclaimed sand big enough to see from orbit. On a nardi board they make a matched pair: the sail closed on the cover, the palm open inside, the city's two silhouettes over a game Gulf families have played for centuries under the name tawla.

About the Artist - Hrachya Ohanyan

In 1985, National Master Hrachya Ohanyan began his fine wood craft, introducing a new approach to the age-old traditions of woodworking. After many years of dedication, the Hrachya Ohanyan workshop was established in 2010. Every board passes through 14 stages of production, with 14 separate craftsmen leaving their mark before it reaches its finished form — a piece of wood artistry admired both in Armenia and around the world. Read the story of master Hrachya Ohanyan or explore the full Hrachya Ohanyan backgammon collection.

A Gift That Lasts Generations

For a Dubai anniversary, a farewell from the Gulf, a birthday in the Marina or the friend who says habibi more often than hello, a hand-carved wooden backgammon set with the Burj Al Arab on the cover is the backgammon gift set that brings the skyline home. We send it at Christmas, at Eid and on Father's Day. It gets opened, played and passed on.