Liwa
Abu Dhabi
United Arab Emirates
April 13, 2016
Hello,
So I picked up my rental car in Abu Dhabi city and set the GPS for the southwest town of Liwa. In a few minutes I was hopelessly lost.
In my frustration I made a turn I shouldn’t have. Seconds later, blue lights were flashing in the rear view mirror.
Abu Dhabi
United Arab Emirates
April 10, 2016
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is the largest mosque in the United Arab Emirates and the eighth largest mosque in the world.
I can’t think of anything more to say than what is written in my guidebook:*
“Rising majestically from beautifully manicured gardens and visible from each of the bridges joining Abu Dhabi Island to the mainland, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque presents an impressive welcome to the city.
Abu Dhabi
Capital City
United Arab Emirates
April 9, 2016
I heard somewhere that the Sheikh in Abu Dhabi declared, “When the oil runs out, we will have the best educated population in the Arab world.” I couldn't find the source of that quote. I did find a reference to a speech the Sheikh delivered in 2015:
HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan said the UAE and other countries in the region had “lagged behind” in the past when it comes to investment in education.
Speaking on the first day of the Dubai Government Summit, Sheikh Mohamed told an audience of world leaders and decision makers: “I think in the region we have all paid a high price in the delay of education.
“We were lagging behind. When we know that we were lagging behind – and we know we are still behind – it’s different than if we are oblivious of our status.
“At this time, when we have a lot wealth, we need to invest in education.”
Sharjah
United Arab Emirates
April 6, 2016
My friend Jack in Chicago tries to visit a school whenever he travels to a new city.
So following Jack’s lead, in Sharjah I visited the Sharjah University City.
The University City was established in 1997. The grounds are beautiful and the buildings are new, with both modern conveniences and traditional Islamic architectural motifs and colors.
More than 20,000 students from all over the world attend classes.
The campus complex covers 1600 acres or 2.5 square miles (647 hectares or 6.5 sq kilometers).
Jazirat Al Hamra Fishing Village
Ras Al Khaimah Emirate
United Arab Emirates
April 5, 2016
My Friends,
In the guidebook, the abandoned Jazirat Al Hamra Fishing Village is categorized as a “neighborhood….”
“….For an authentic glimpse of the pre-oil era, poke around this deliciously spooky ghost town, one of the oldest and best preserved coastal villages in the UAE.”
“First settled in the 14th Century, its people subsisted mostly on fishing and pearling until they suddenly picked up and left in 1968.”*
Cautiously I make my way up and around the rocky paths amid the cluttered ruins of homes, schools, shops, mosques and towers.
