Ahmad ibn Majid

Arab navigator whose nautical expertise reshaped global trade routes

Ahmad ibn Majid (1432–1500), known as the 'Lion of the Sea', was an Omani navigator who revolutionized Indian Ocean trade. His masterpiece Kitab al-Fawa'id (Book of Benefits) systematized centuries of Arab sailing knowledge, introducing monsoonal navigation charts and star-calibration techniques. Though controversially linked to guiding Vasco da Gama to India, his true legacy lies in democratizing maritime knowledge.

Unlike secretive Portuguese cartógrafos, Ibn Majid published openly, enabling Asian merchants to compete with European carracks. His work influenced Malay Jawi navigational manuals and Swahili sea poetry. Modern analysts credit his manuals with sustaining Indian Ocean trade networks during European incursions.

A 2021 UAE documentary The Navigator revived interest in his multicultural ethos. As historian Michael Rucker notes, Ibn Majid represents the overlooked 'Islamic Golden Age of Navigation' that connected continents before Columbus.