Al-Sakhna

The town of al-Sakhna lies just to the east of Omrazir along the northern coast of the Sirdabi province of Raziya. It is built on the shores of a deep but sheltered lagoon that forms an excellent natural harbor, and its inhabitants have fished and dived for pearls in the Strait of Sorrows for countless generations. Though the town predates nearby Omrazir and has a historic rivalry with it, al-Sakhna is now often considered an extension of the larger city and serves as its primary port.

Al-Sakhna presents a distinctive sight from the strait. Although its buildings are constructed of the common umberstone native to the region, they are given a unique flair by the use of decorative patterns laid in the stonework, often creating stripes or zigzags on the structures' facades. These patterns are then in turn brightly limewashed, along with the trim around doorways, windows, and eaves. This love of striking patterns is mirrored in the turbans and headcloths favored by al-Sakhnans, which almost always feature colorful stripes or chevrons against a contrasting white background.

Al-Sakhna is also notable for its Irulao community, who reside in their own small enclave of stilt-legged huts on the east side of the town. Besides participating in the local fishing industry and managing their own mercantile affairs, the Irulao here are known for carving pearls into singularly beautiful beads.