Tab - Ancient Dhofari Boardgame

Tab is a traditional board game from Dhofar,the south of Oman, passed down through generations as a cherished pastime within families. Once a familiar presence in every Dhofari household, Tab has quietly faded due to modernization and shifting lifestyles.

At Rahina, we are committed to cultural preservation. The founder created this edition of Tab to honour her favorite memories with the matriarchs of her family and to keep alive a tradition she inherited from her grandmother. It is more than a boardgame, it is a thread that connects us to those who came before.

This handcrafted edition features:

A 5x5 grid solid wood foldable box
16 pawns (called ’iyal in Arabic, meaning “children”)
4 traditional playing sticks (used in place of dice - 'idan, sticks in arabic)
An instructional booklet with step-by-step guide in English and Arabic
A hand-stitched velvet pouch to hold the pawns and sticks

Each piece is lovingly made, carrying the spirit of Dhofar in its materials and design. Slight imperfections are part of its handmade charm and uniqueness.

For an intuitive walkthrough, you can also view our animated instructions here.

This game is designed to bring people together; across generations, across cultures. Play it. Share it. Pass it on.