Al-Hawalis: A Guide to the Gulf’s Traditional Mancala Game

Long before digital screens and modern board games, families across the Arabian Gulf gathered around a simple wooden board carved with shallow pits, their attention fixed on a handful of stones or seeds. Al-Hawalis, a traditional mancala game, has been played for centuries in the region, offering both entertainment and a test of strategic thinking. Today, it remains a cherished link to the Gulf’s cultural heritage.

What is Al-Hawalis?

Al-Hawalis (also known as Hawalis in Oman and other parts of the Gulf) belongs to the global family of mancala games, which are among the oldest known board games in the world. The name derives from the Arabic word for ‘pebbles’ or ‘small stones’, reflecting the simple materials used. Played on a board with two or more rows of pits, the game involves capturing seeds or stones from an opponent by careful counting and planning.

The Board and Pieces

A traditional Al-Hawalis board is typically hand-carved from wood, featuring two parallel rows of six or seven round pits, sometimes with larger storage pits at each end. In the past, players used whatever was at hand: camel or goat droppings, date seeds, small shells, or smooth pebbles. The board’s simplicity allowed it to be played almost anywhere—on the ground, on a mat, or on a wooden plank—making it a portable pastime for Bedouin and coastal communities alike.

Basic Rules of Play

The exact rules vary slightly from region to region, but the core mechanics remain consistent. Each player begins with an equal number of seeds distributed in the pits on their side of the board. On a turn, a player selects all seeds from one of their pits and sows them one by one into subsequent pits in a chosen direction, moving around the board. Capturing occurs when the last seed lands in an empty pit on the opponent’s side, allowing the player to take that seed and any seeds in the opposite pit. The game ends when one player has no seeds left in their pits, and the winner is the person with the most captured seeds.

Because Al-Hawalis involves both arithmetic and forward planning, it was often used to teach children counting and patience. Yet it is not merely a children’s game—adults play it with intense concentration, and skilled players can anticipate several moves ahead.

Cultural Significance and Modern Revival

Al-Hawalis was more than a game; it was a social activity that brought families and neighbours together during long evenings, especially in the cooler months. It also served as a quiet pastime during the heat of the day, played in the shade of palm trees or inside the majlis. The game’s rhythms mirror the unhurried pace of traditional Gulf life, where conversation and tea accompanied each move.

In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in preserving traditional games as part of intangible cultural heritage. Cultural festivals, museums and heritage villages in the UAE, Oman and Saudi Arabia sometimes feature Al-Hawalis demonstrations, and craft markets sell beautifully carved boards. Learning the game offers a tangible way to connect with the region’s history—and with the people who still gather around these simple pits to test their wits.