stories from the united arab emirates

STORIES FROM THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

INSPIRATIONAL PEOPLEFROM THE EMIRATES

EMIRATIARCHITECTURE

TRAVEL THROUGH THESEVEN EMIRATES

Al Agabiyya

Al Wogun

Al Rahba

Shahamah

Al Maqatrah

TarifRuwais

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The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a constitutional federation of seven emirates: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al

Khaimah and Fujairah. The federation was formally established on 2nd December 1971. The President of the UAE is Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan; he was elected on 3rd November 2004, following the death

of his father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who held the post from the foundation of the State on 2nd December 1971 until his death on 2nd November 2004. The Vice President is presently Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who was elected following the death of his brother,

Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, in early 2006.

“The UAE has always placed great emphasis and priority to the issues of stabilisation of international peace and security. It seeks to promote direct

and indirect humanitarian relief, developmental and economical aid, which extends to several developing countries. The UAE also believes in the

importance of economic development and prosperity for the people of the world enabling them to enjoy their human rights, which the international

community has worked vigorously to establish.Simultaneously, the UAE pursues a responsible role as a producer of

conventional energy resources on both national and international levels, by supporting price stability, boosting the development of additional reserves, ensuring the availability of safe supply route, and meeting the requirements

of long-term sustainability through the development and consumption of low-carbon energy.

The UAE holds an influential position in several international and regional organisations, and have many friends all over the world.”

Excerpt from a speech by His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates addressing

the United Nations General Assembly

pREfAcE

His Highness Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan,Minister of foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates

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009-040LIfESTYLE

Noura Al Kaabi – Abu Dhabi, Media

Khalid Shafar – Dubai, furniture

Salem Al Qassimi – Sharjah, Design

farah Al fardh – Umm Al Quwain, paper quilling

Abdulla Al Kaabi – fujairah, film

Moza Al Matrooshi – Ajman, Interior Design

Mohamed Al Suwaidi – Ras Al Khaimah, pearls

041-062ARcHITEcTURE

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque – Abu Dhabi, Monument

UAE pavilion – Abu Dhabi, culture

Burj Khalifa – Dubai, Architecture

Khalid Najjar – Dubai, Interior Design

Sheikha Lateefa bint Maktoum (Tashkeel) – Dubai, Art

093-123TRAVEL

central Souk – Abu Dhabi, Shopping

Al fahidi Historical Neighbourhood – Dubai, History

Sharjah Museum of Islamic civilization – Sharjah, culture

fish Market – fujairah, food

Ajman Museum – Ajman, Heritage

Dreamland – Umm Al Quwain, Leisure

Mangroves and Mountains – Ras Al Khaimah, Nature

coVER

cover artwork by Emirati mixed media artist Maitha Demithan

063-084INNoVAToRS

Dr. Majid Al Qassimi – Abu Dhabi, Environment

Tariq Al Gurg (Dubai cares) – Dubai, charity

Adil Khalid – Abu Dhabi, Sailing

Shams – Abu Dhabi, Environment

Masdar – Abu Dhabi, Environment

Dhow Racing – UAE, Heritage

085-092cULTURE

Emirati culture – the basics: popular phrases, traditional clothing and an illustrated guide to

the national currencyPublisher

pUBLISHERAhmed Bin Shabib

EDIToR IN cHIEfRashid Bin Shabib

EDIToRAnna Seaman

cREATIVE DIREcToRAlma Kamal

ART EDIToRMira Mortada

pHoToGRApHERGabriela Maj

ILLUSTRAToRSimone Massoni

coNTENTS

008

The UAE is a federation of seven emirates: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Umm Al Quwain, fujairah, Ajman and Ras Al

Khaimah. Despite comprising mostly desert, the landscape of the country is complex and varied, from the towering red dunes of the Liwa to the rich palm-filled oases of Al Ain, the

precipitous Hajar Mountains and the more fertile stretches of its coastal plains.

Though small in size, the UAE has become an important player in regional and international affairs. In 1971, the country’s late

president Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan unified the small, underdeveloped states into the Arab world’s first federation. Under his visionary leadership used to develop the UAE into

one of the world’s most open and successful economies.

ABoUT THE UAEعن اإلمارات

01 brownbook ~ issue 23

01101001 Noura Al Kaabi, CEO of twofour54 in Abu Dhabi

Creating Change

Noura Al Kaabi is a role model for the next generation of artistic young people. Here she tells us about her role as CEO of Abu Dhabi’s twofour54 media zone

Abu Dhabiأبو ظبي

Noura Al Kaabi

CEO twofour54Emirati Item: Heritage

013lifestyle Abu Dhabi, UAE01201 twofour54 was founded in 2008

I think it is truly great to support this generation of

young ArabsNOurA Al KAAbi

With her broad smile and seemingly constant enthusiasm, it is difficult to detect any signs of the pressure that Noura Al Kaabi must endure on an almost daily basis. As the Chief Executive Officer of twofour54, the UAE’s content creation hub, Al Kaabi is at the forefront of the national media industry and it is under her watch that the ambitious new generation of creative people are finding their footholds and exercising creativity.

‘Since its inception in 2008, it has been our key ambition to nurture a new generation of creative talent from the UAE and to give young Arabs the tools to tell their own stories, whether through film, television, digital, animation or gaming,’ she tells us. ‘Personally I think it is truly great to support this generation of young Arabs that turn to various modes of creative expression, conveying the history, culture and reality of living in this region.’

twofour54, so named after the geographical location of Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, is a media free zone that

015lifestyle Abu Dhabi, UAE01401 Al Kaabi has been CEO of twofour54 since 201202 twofour54's headquarters in Abu Dhabi

facilitates the development of Arabic media and entertainment content in the region. Under the Abu Dhabi Media Zone Authority, twofour54 not only encourages content from all seven emirates in the UAE, but also encourages the development of content from the wider Middle East and North Africa region.

Asked if she can share some examples of some of the most notable projects, Al Kaabi says there are almost too many to choose from. However, she does point to the documentary Emirati Expressions – a behind the scenes video of the exhibition of the same name in which Emiratis used visual art to express their national identity. ‘I would invite those not able to travel to the UAE and discover the truth about the rich culture and heritage here to have a look at the documentary online. It shows just a small part of the depth of talent we have here.’

She also pinpoints Ya Khalifatna, a song that twofour54 created for the UAE’s 41st National Day in December 2012. The project was a collaboration between a well-known music producer, singer and composer Fayez Al Saeed and renowned Emirati poet Arif Al Khaja. They created a song and lyrics inspired by previous National Day songs.

‘Another good example is the short film Ostora,’ she continues. ‘It was developed by Emirati scriptwriter Faisal

Al Sharyani and supported by the twofour54 creative lab. The animated 3D musical combines the history of the union of the UAE with tales from ancient Greek mythology. 'I am very pleased to say that the film was recently awarded the Special Picture prize at the 3D Korea International Short Film Festival.’

Since starting with the content creation zone, Al Kaabi has worked in many departments and is very proud to be part of the rapidly expanding media industry in the capital. ‘Some people believe that Abu Dhabi’s economy is solely dependent on oil,’ she says. ‘The reality is that Abu Dhabi is well underway to achieve its 2030 vision, which includes a road map to achieve sustainable development through economic diversification. The media industry is part of this vision, and twofour54 is a key player in developing a sustainable media and entertainment industry for the UAE.’

Taking up the role of CEO in April 2012, Al Kaabi has renewed the focus on Emirati youth and her patriotism is never far behind her.

‘I am proud to be originally from Abu Dhabi and it has been incredible to see how fast this country has grown over the past decades. The years ahead promise to be equally busy and exciting. The developments in the media and creative industries are enriching our cultural life,’ she concludes.01

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01701601 A sofa that is part of Shafar's Lazy Folds collection

In His PalmsKhalid Shafar’s furniture has been exhibited all over the world and it

is one of few truly homegrown brands. From Dubai, this designer has high hopes for the future

Dubaiدبي

Khalid Shafar

Furniture DesignerEmirati Item: Bukhoor

019lifestyle Dubai, UAE01803 Shafar creating one of his coat stands, The Palm04 Hence The Trap, Shafar's sliding bookshelf

01 Shafar in his studio 02 KASA, home to the Khalid Shafar brand

As one of only a handful of professional internationally established Emirati furniture designers, Khalid Shafar is a rare talent. Whether it is his palm-frond benches or his 2013 collection comprising of pieces such as Hence The Trap, a sliding bookshelf housed within wire mesh, Shafar’s work is both homegrown in the UAE and finished with exemplary quality. As such, he manages to fuse the delicate culture of his nation with the international standards of quality design.

‘I always believe in the story of my designs and a country’s culture is also full of stories of the past, present and future so I incorporate them both into my work,’ he says. ‘Although today’s furnishing trends sometimes force designers to follow certain styles, for me my background, culture and heritage remain a very rich source of inspiration.’

Although he obtained a business management degree and a fine arts interior design degree from the American University in Dubai, designing furniture was a passion he had always harboured. He was later advised to do a full cabinet making and woodworking course and chose an institution in Nelson, New Zealand.

Although geographically far from home, Shafar says people had a very positive perception of the UAE. ‘In all the places

I have lived and visited people have a good opinion of my country. We have many successful industries and local brands and we have also started to take good steps in art, design and culture, establishing many platforms here and abroad. It is now our role as creative people to communicate this further and to be ambassadors in the international market,’ he says.

Having now represented the UAE in exhibitions in Tokyo, China, Italy, Germany, Brazil, Lebanon and across the Gulf, Shafar is very proud to have taken steps towards realising this goal. Thanks to his hard work he has also been represented in international publications such as Wallpaper*, GQ Japan and Elle and says he hopes to continue to expand his sphere of influence.

‘I want to be a reference point of design for the UAE and the region and I want my name to be among the top when it comes to design from this part of the world.’

Closer to home Shafar says the industry is still very much in its infancy but he expects it to keep growing and become more established. ‘I believe we are still at the beginning of the road but we are looking at achieving milestones towards our vision for design in the region. This year we will witness the second edition of Design Days Dubai – the only fair dedicated to design in the region and we will also see the opening of new design galleries in the region showcasing products designed and produced locally.’

Dubai is the ideal location for the expansion of the design industry as well as the other creative industries as it successfully develops its role as an international hub for people from all over the world. Tourists and business travellers come from the West and from within the region too, and the level of infrastructure means that people tend to focus on the emirate as a showcase platform to the rest of the world. In terms of design, whether it is interiors or exteriors, Dubai is an emirate with huge diversity and there's no doubt that it will be attracting innovation for many years to come.

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It is now our role as creative people to be ambassadors

in the international market

KhaliD ShaFar

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02102001 Salem Al Qassimi, founder of Fikra Design Studio

Bright SparkAfter founding a design studio in Sharjah over six years ago, Salem Al Qassimi

is still at the forefront of his industry

Sharjahالشارقة

Salem Al Qassimi

Founder: Fikra Design StudioEmirati Item: Kandora

023lifestyle Sharjah, UAE02203 Al Qassimi is a native of Sharjah04 Al Qassimi in his studio

01 Fikra Design Studio 02 Afkar Fikra is the studio's educational element

Salem Al Qassimi grew up in what he later described as a melting pot of cultures. The graphic designer and founder of the Sharjah-based design house Fikra, began his exploration into his culture through a thesis at the Rhode Island School of Design in New York. The pages of the thesis show montage-like images of a mundane, typically western outfit, consisting of jeans and a checked shirt overlaid onto prints of a creased white kandora. It goes on to focus on three categories of dress, culture and urban landscape, and how these have changed dramatically over the past generation. Calling it Arabish (a combination of the words English and Arabic) he began the project by asking people in America about their thoughts on the UAE and went on to deconstruct his own perceptions of the country.

‘From my experience, I think people in New York and Rhode Island know very little about the UAE,’ he says. ‘That's probably another reason why my thesis was on UAE culture – to educate and to familiarise people with my own culture. I feel responsibility to talk about where I am from.’

He is now one of the few Emiratis successfully representing the design industry in the UAE and it is an accolade that

makes him proud. ‘I am lucky to be part of the first wave of designers and design educators in the UAE and the region. We are still relatively new to the industry and there is a lot to be done.’

He says he did not set out to base his work on his culture and background but an ‘obvious pattern started revealing itself through my thinking process and work’. Now, he says that these aspects are crucial in defining his work.

In 2006, he founded Fikra – a multidisciplinary design studio that would allow him and others the freedom to explore design in its broadest form. Fikra evolved into a platform for design education and now involves itself in national educational programmes that offer workshops on design as well as ADAM, a collaboration with Pink Tank that will map out the creative population in the Middle East region.

‘As an educator, I felt that my students and other students at different universities in the region lacked an understanding of relevant design-related issues specific to the region. With Afkar Fikra – the educational element of Fikra – our mission is to foster design education and explore different topics revolving around design and culture. The subjects investigated in Afkar Fikra are meant to challenge the traditional understanding of design and specifically graphic design and visual communications in the Arab region. We try to involve students, and the public to participate in those conversations revolving around design.’

Going from strength to strength, Al Qassimi is aware that he is part of an influential generation and he wants to continue to be involved in long-term cultural research projects and in arts and culture.

His home emirate of Sharjah is also extremely important to him both personally and professionally. ‘Sharjah is extremely unique and authentic,’ he says. ‘It is family oriented and is also very rich in arts and culture. We have the Sharjah Art Foundation and the museums which are instigating rich conversations related to the arts. I think Sharjah's biggest hidden secret is still hidden and that is what keeps it something special.’ While he has no desire to leave, he says if he ever had to he would go nowhere without his kandora, a bottle of oud and a bag of dates. ‘These things remind me of home and for me they represent a home comfort.’

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I feel responsibility to talk about where I am from

SAlem Al QASSimi

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02502401 Paper quilling artist Farah Al Fardh

On a RollPaper quilling artist Farah Al Fardh is the only Arab to ever join the UK Quilling

Guild and is now going to great lengths to promote this art at home and abroad

Umm Al Quwainأّم القوين

Farah Al Fardh

Paper QuillerEmirati Item: Photograph

027lifestyle Umm Al Quwain, UAE02603 Al Fardh's smurf figurines04 Al Fardh developed the idea of Quilligraphy

01 Al Fardh started practicing paper quilling in 200402 Original figurines created by Al Fardh

Whenever Farah Al Fardh travels overseas, she takes the UAE flag with her and a handful of Emirati figurines, that she has painstakingly crafted from paper.

‘It is my responsibility as an Emirati artist to represent the country in the best possible way,’ she says. The young artist, from Umm Al Quwain, is the first Arab to receive Certificate of Accreditation from The Quilling Guild in the UK.

But her rise to international acclaim started with a fall. In 2004, she fell down the stairs and landed with a bump. Badly twisting her ankle, she spent a month in bed and in her boredom, reached out for the nearest book. It was on the little known art of paper quilling and before long, she was twirling strips of coloured paper into shapes and patterns. Three years later, when she had mastered the art. She made little paper sheep for all her family members at Eid and people started to ask her about her art. In 2009, she launched a website about quilling and posted lessons online. She was awarded for her work and is now delighted to be recognised as the first Arab to receive accreditation from The Quilling Guild. ‘I am very proud,’ she says. ‘This art makes me feel that I am unique as an Emirati artist and as someone who represents this art in the Arab world.’

Al Fardh is now a member of four international quilling groups in the UK, USA, Japan and Holland and at home she was awarded the Shamsa Bint Suhail Award for Creative Women in 2011.

Saying her inspiration comes from images she sees in books and libraries, Al Fardh’s paper creations have recently taken a new turn in a creative art she has named as 'Quilligraphy'. ‘I have introduced Arabic Quilligraphy, a mix of quilling and calligraphy, and it has been well received by fans.’

Quilligraphy involves taking the thin paper strips and rolling them into the shapes of letters to form words and images with letters. It is an extra element to her work that

Al Fardh considers to be extremely therapeutic and relaxing. She tells a story about her nephew: ‘He used to be a notorious troublemaker and everyone was afraid of handling him. One Friday I offered to take care of him and my aunt was surprised that she did not receive a single phone call during the day about him. As soon as she arrived in the evening, she asked, “Did something happen?” I told her that I gave her son two pieces of shredded paper and asked him to roll them. He kept rolling from morning till evening without a word and made some things to show his mother.’

So, the ancient art of rolling paper that is thought to have begun as far back as the 13th century, is having a new lease of life thanks to this young artist.

‘I am so happy about that,’ she smiles. ‘It is an amazing art and one that I want to teach everyone about.'

‘In the UAE people are surprised when I tell them that I am from Umm Al Quwain, because for them it is strange that a girl from there is bold enough to appear on TV and travel around the world to spread her art, but I am proud of my heritage, Umm Al Qawain is a beautiful and quiet city with lovely beaches.'

'Outside of the UAE I don’t mention which city I belong to unless I am specifically asked. I am an Emirati and I represent the UAE, that is all that matters.’

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This art makes me feel that I am unique as an Emirati artist

FArAh Al FArdh

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02902801 Emirati filmmaker Abdulla Al Kaabi

Nature BoyAbdulla Al Kaabi has achieved a lot for the UAE film industry already and

his ambition shows no sign of stopping

Fujairahالفجيرة

Abdulla Al Kaabi

Filmmaker Emirati Item: Limes

031lifestyle Fujairah, UAE03003 Al Kaabi's next film will be titled Girls in The Know

and will centre around family life in the UAE01 Al Kaabi originally hails from Fujairah02 The mountains of Fujairah

Although he has spent much of his young life living and working in some of Europe’s most magnificent, historic cities, it is back home in the majestic mountains of Fujairah that Abdulla Al Kaabi has chosen to set his first feature film.

The 26-year-old filmmaker, who shot to critical acclaim in 2011 with his 20-minute short film The Philosopher (made in 2010) that starred Jean Reno and made its debut at Cannes, says he has always taken great inspiration from his homeland.

‘I used to see the mountains in Fujairah every morning when I was growing up and they still inspire me more than any other place in the world,’ he says. ‘A feature film for me is something that concerns my soul so of course I had to set it in my home.’

The film, that is about to move into production, is being made under the working title Girls in The Know (Banat Fahma) and is about family life in the UAE.

Family and community is very important to Al Kaabi, who has a studio and a production company El Booma Films in Dubai, a home in Fujairah and a place in Paris that he uses on his trips to Europe.

In fact, he says, if he ever had to leave his home in the UAE forever, he couldn’t do it without taking his family with him.

‘Of course I love my family,’ he smiles, ‘and it is important to me to represent the community I am from in whatever I do. Whenever I am working as a filmmaker outside the country, I will always be presented as a filmmaker from the UAE and I am very aware of that. I think nothing more than a film from Dubai and the UAE can really represent what life is like here.’

For the production of his film, Al Kaabi has a grand aim for casting, and is hoping to cast ‘a village’ worth of people. Describing the huge team as a cross section of nationalities and cultures, he says that the combined influence of all these people can’t help but infiltrate the flavour and colour of the film.

‘A film is a visual story and the more people watch films, the more they are able to enter the mindset of a people, the story that goes behind it, its culture and the way it works,’ he continues.

Although Al Kaabi says people are more and more aware of the UAE and its true culture, he does admit that in Europe there is still an opinion that people in his home country are ‘filthy rich, that nobody works for money and that all we have is oil.’ He hopes to be part of the movement to change this, he says.

‘Five years ago people would think Dubai was a country and that it was a cultural wasteland but now it is becoming more well-known and finding its place on the map. I think films are really helping to change that and I am proud and honoured to be part of that movement.'

‘Hopefully one day, when it is a hub for international cinema making, I will be remembered as one of the pioneers of the UAE film industry and I will even get a nomination for best foreign film at the Academy Awards. We have all the infrastructure and all the resources but as yet we haven’t had time for it to become established. I have no doubt that as the years go by, we are going to get there and I will look back and be proud.’

The more people watch films, the more they are

able to enter the mindset of the people

AbdUllA Al KAAbi

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03303201 Moza Al Matrooshi is a design student from Ajman

Clear visionMoza Al Matrooshi is a young design student from Ajman with ambitious

plans for her emirate and her industry

Ajmanعجمان

Moza Al Matrooshi

Interior Design StudentEmirati Item: Jar of sand

035lifestyle Ajman, UAE03403 Al Matrooshi painted Emirati pop culture images04 The artist at work

01 Al Matrooshi painting plant pots in JBR 02 The promenade in JBR

Every event in Moza Al Matrooshi’s life seems to be relevant to design. Whether it was the recent death of a neighbour where she designed directions cards for family and friends or research she was doing for a university project that culminated in her designing an outdoor seating area for a nursing home in her native Ajman, she can’t help but exercise her creativity.

‘I see design in everything,’ says the demure 22-year-old. ‘I see spaces, I see colour, I don’t want to restrict myself to one form of design, I want to break free of that and incorporate it into every aspect of life.’

Al Matrooshi is currently completing her studies in Dubai’s Zayed University but she hails from Ajman, the small emirate just north of Sharjah and she says her focus has and always will be on her home.

‘When I graduate I hope to create a design studio here in Ajman with my friends,’ she says. ‘We have already come together as a group and are talking about how to move forward. I definitely think there is a lot of potential here.’

At the moment, outside of her intensive interior design course, Al Matrooshi is undertaking a commission for Sikka Art Fair – the annual event dedicated to Emiratis and UAE residents that runs concurrently to Art Dubai. She is working on a set of hollow benches to illustrate the hospitable nature of her native community.

‘It is an ode to the tradition that people used to put benches outside of their homes and wait for passers-by to join them. It was very normal to welcome strangers into our houses before and we had a beautiful outdoor culture but we have lost that now and I am making reference to that.’

Al Matrooshi also took part in the public art project in Dubai’s Jumeirah Beach Residence that saw local artists painting public structures. Al Matrooshi painted four plant pots on the promenade with images and icons from Emirati pop culture. ‘It is still true that when people think of the UAE they think of sand dunes and camels so I wanted to show them something different,’ she says. Choosing to illustrate

the cartoon character Majed and the popular snacks Chips Oman with Falcon hot sauce, Al Matrooshi says she is making a visual reference to a side of life in the UAE that many expats and tourists are not aware of. ‘I did it in a humourous way and it was supposed to make people smile. I think there is so much of our culture that we still need to share.’

Although still so young, Al Matrooshi is aware of a certain responsibility that falls on her shoulders to represent and to remember the elements of UAE culture that distinguish it from the rest. In a globalised world, she muses, it is easy to follow the crowd and forget what makes you different.

‘Sometimes it hurts me that with all the accomplishments we have achieved, there can still be such ignorance about our country and its people. I remember Khalid Shafar [the furniture designer] once told me that we had to keep the story alive and I feel that it is up to us, the younger generation, to move the design world forward but at the same time remember our past. I hope to be able to achieve that.’

I think there is so much of our culture that we still need

to shareMozA Al MAtrooshi

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03703601 Mohamed Al Suwaidi by the sea

The Ocean GemMohamed Al Suwaidi helps to run the family business RAK Pearls and is extremely

passionate about the jewel of the sea. He also helps us to remember the UAE's rich history

Ras Al Khaimahرأس الخيمة

Mohamed Al Suwaidi

Emirati Item: A Pearl

03903801 Fishing for oysters in Khor Al Rams, Ras Al

Khaimahlifestyle Ras Al Khaimah, UAE

According to Mohamed Al Suwaidi, he is the only person in the UAE, and possibly the entire Middle East, who can talk about pearls for a week without getting bored. Al Suwaidi, the Excursion Operation Manager for RAK Pearls, is only 27 but he is something of an expert on pearls and the pearling industry. For him it is far more than a business, it is a way of life that has been in his culture for thousands of years and he considers it his social responsibility to keep the tradition alive.

'Pearls are in our literature, our art and our heritage but what is missing in the new generation is the knowledge of the life and the struggle our ancestors went through. My grandfather was a pearl diver and he has stories that are simply impossible to believe. It is our responsibility to revive the industry and bring it back to the region.'

RAK Pearls is the first and only cultured pearl project in the Gulf region and produces 40,000 pearls every year. They collect the pearls from 200,000 oysters in a protected area in Khor Al Rams, in Ras Al Khaimah. In the idyllic and calm waters of the Khor (creek), Al Suwaidi says they often see sea turtles, flamingos and other wildlife in the unspoilt mangroves.

It is our responsibility to revive the industry and bring it back

to the regionMoHAMEd Al SUwAidi

040 lifestyle Ras Al Khaimah, UAE

'It is truly beautiful,' he says. 'It helps me to remember why Ras Al Khaimah is so special and how our natural environment is the best in the UAE. We have sea, desert and mountains all within 50 kilometres of each other – that is pretty unique.'

RAK Pearls is a family business that was set up in 2004; they were only allowed access to the protected creek after a strict monitoring period from the Ras Al Khaimah authorities to ensure they would not cause any negative impact to the environment. Al Suwaidi proudly states that the business is completely sustainable. 'We have zero waste. We sell the oyster meat in our Japanese restaurant, we use the other waste organs for organic fertiliser and any pearls that are not of high enough quality to sell go into furniture products and other art projects.'

Other than the pearls themselves, the shells (mother-of-pearl) are used in jewellery and in furniture design. Al Suwaidi says their rare 'Orient' colour makes them desirable items.

He is also busy collating the story of the pearl and the industry for the RAK Pearls Museum, another offshoot of the larger holding company. Although it opened last year, it has

since closed for maintenance but is set to reopen later this year and will reveal the history of pearling from some 4,000 years ago, the techniques and equipment used as well as the trading background.

'We will tell the story of the pearl from the seas of the Gulf to the crowns of Queens in Europe and the Maharajas in India,' says Al Suwaidi. But again he comes back to the question of heritage. The museum is part of his larger goal, to educate and remind his peers of the efforts of their forefathers.

'What I am doing is adding value to the UAE,' he says. 'I am keeping tradition alive. I don't want stories like my grandfather's to be forgotten and I want people to remember their history. Also, I hope that one day we will make the UAE once again the centre of pearling in the region.'

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Culture and Worship

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is a striking example of modern Islamic architecture and a space of worship,

learning and cultural enrichment

At the entrance of Abu Dhabi, welcoming visitors and residents to the Emirate, is Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. The immense structure is the largest of its kind in the country – an impressive marriage of 82 domes, 1000 columns and four minarets bathed in white and crowned with touches of gold. The construction of the mosque was completed in 2007, with seven years and over 1 billion dollars invested in the project. Housed within its white marble walls is the world’s largest carpet, handmade by 1,200 weavers in Iran, which at 5627 square metres weighs a hefty 47 tonnes, as well as the biggest chandelier known to man, 15 metres high and 10 metres in diameter.

This grand landmark was initiated by and named after the founder and first president of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. He set the foundation stone for the mosque, marking its establishment. Sheikh Zayed, who passed away in 2004, is buried in a small courtyard near the mosque.

In 2012, the mosque welcomed around four million visitors and worshipers and was rated one of the world’s 16 most recommended global sites by users of the travel website TripAdvisor. The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center has

managed the daily operations of the mosque since 2008, under the auspices of the Ministry of Presidential Affairs and the sponsorship and supervision of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs. Among many other cultural and educational activities, the SZGMC organises complimentary guided tours of the mosque in both English and Arabic. The mosque also houses a library, which aims to instigate cross-cultural conversations through its body of texts centred on the history, culture and art of the Islamic world. The mosque attracts a substantial amount of visitors during Ramadan. During the first week of the holy month in 2012, it received over 170,000 fasters. A special charitable Iftar programme was also organised by the SZGMC. The Armed Forces Officers Club in Abu Dhabi prepared and delivered approximately twenty thousand meals to the mosque, which were then distributed in Ramadan tents located in the lower gardens.

A paragon of modern Islamic architecture, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is considered Abu Dhabi’s premiere attraction. ‘It’s easy to get very engrossed in the intricate carvings on the mosque’s marble façade,’ says one visitor. ‘You feel a sense of peacefulness within the space.’

03 The mosque contains 1000 columns04 In 2012, the mosque had around 4 million visitors

01 Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque has 82 domes 02 Flower ornamentation on an interior wall

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National Treasure

Abu Dhabi's UAE Pavilion is an environmentally friendly architectural marvel. The Foster + Partners structure is home

to the capital's art fair and holds the promise of a nation


design Abu Dhabi, UAE046 04701 The UAE Pavilion02 The design was inspired by desert sand dunes

03 The Pavilion is located on Saadiyat Island04 The exterior is made of coloured stainless steel

When they catch the sunlight, the undulating curves of the UAE Pavilion glimmer like a desert mirage. Situated in the centre of Abu Dhabi's Saadiyat Island and the first building to be completed in the capital's much lauded cultural district, the Pavilion represents in many ways the beginning of a dream. Its golden colours too, evoke the desert climate of its home.

Gerard Evenden, Senior Partner at Foster + Partners and a key facilitator behind the project elaborates further: 'The landscape of the UAE is integral to the culture and, as a sand dune’s shape is honed by the country’s climate, moulded by the wind, this became the inspiration. There are varying shades of sand within each of the Emirates, which is why we chose a coloured stainless steel for the exterior – its hue changes at different times of the day.'

Evenden explains that a natural dune appears smooth on the side that bears the full force of the wind and rough on the side that collects the sand after it has been tipped over the ridge. The UAE Pavilion's design replicates this. 'The curve of the dune responds to the arc of the sun and is orientated towards the north. The solid shell forms protect against the direct glare from the south and allow indirect light to enter the habitable areas via a complex series of louvres,' he says.

But more than just looking pretty, the design ensures a large reduction in external heat gain. It is one of the few buildings in the UAE to have a two pearl rating under the Estidama sustainable design programme implemented by

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design Abu Dhabi, UAE048 04901 The UAE Pavilion in the evening02 A blueprint of the Pavilion

Abu Dhabi to encourage more environmentally friendly development.

It is also a construction marvel. More than 20 metres tall with its intricate, computer-generated geometry and a roof measuring 6,000 square metres, the Pavilion consists of 4,880 structural steel parts, 9,750 cladding sheets and more than 20,000 cladding support components, that were designed as a kind of giant jigsaw puzzle so that the entire structure could be dismantled and reformed.

This was because the Pavilion's first resting place was the Shanghai World Expo in 2010. It was erected over the course of 18 months for the six-month show in the Chinese metropolis during which it attracted nearly two million visitors. Then it was taken apart piece by piece, catalogued, numbered and labelled before beginning the 6500 kilometre journey over sea to the UAE. Reconstruction took about seven months and in an unprecedented logistical challenge, it was ready in time for Abu Dhabi Art Fair in November 2011.

'As the design was so rooted in the landscape and culture of the Emirates, it seems fitting that it is now the venue for the national art fair,' says Evenden.

The story behind the building goes a little further however, than even the banks of the Huangpu River in Shanghai. In order for it to make its home in the UAE at the Manarat Al

Saadiyat, the Pavilion had to be raised on a concrete podium to allow room for a new mezzanine level that increased the available exhibition space by an extra 600 square metres. This meant that two new staircases and an elevator had to be included and the building's mechanical, electrical and air-conditioning systems had to be modified to accommodate the changes in its size and use.

This was no small engineering feat but Foster + Partners was eventually credited with having the first fully functional structure on the island. 'That was an honour,' says Evenden. 'We are also particularly pleased that the first functional building on the island is an inherently sustainable, recycled structure.'

Now the capital's expanding art fair uses the purpose-built gallery space, ideal for the placing of contemporary art, every year. This is only the first step in the island's journey to becoming a hub for cultural, architectural and educational excellence.

'The Pavilion is just one of the many cultural highlights planned for Saadiyat Island,' says Evenden. 'Each building is distinct, but shares a common theme in showcasing the heritage of the UAE and its transformation. Like the pavilion, the new, emerging architecture will reflect both traditional values and an awareness of today’s environmental issues.'01

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The Towering

CityDespite its intimidating height, Burj Khalifa is an active urban

monument with something for everyone

Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, commands attention. Whether you’re strolling through downtown, floating in a plane above the city skyline or approaching Dubai by car from another Emirate, it’s difficult not to notice this tower – the metropolis’ magnetic centre and the crown jewel of its compelling architecture-scape.

Developed by Emaar Properties PJSC, Burj Khalifa stands at over 828 metres and contains more than 160 stories. More than just the world’s tallest building, it also holds the records for tallest structure and tallest freestanding structure in existence. Burj Khalifa’s designers were selected through a competition, the results of which awarded the Chicago office of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM) with Adrian Smith FAIA, RIBA as consulting design partner, the privilege of conceptualising the tower.

Its triple-lobed footprint was inspired by the Hymenocallis flower, and its three primary components wrap around a central core, which ascends into a moulded spire at the peak of the building. Its y-shaped floor plan allows for the widest possible view of the Arabian Gulf.

Nada Andric was responsible for Burj Khalifa’s interior design, which marries glass, stainless steel, gleaming dark stones, silver travertine flooring, Venetian stucco walls, hand-

woven rugs and stone flooring. Through her design, Andric attempted to pay homage to Emirati culture while situating Burj Khalifa within a global context. Works of art by renowned Middle Eastern and international artists commissioned by Emaar punctuate the walls of the building. The sophisticated aesthetic that inspired the anatomy of the tower extends into the nearby park, with its 11 hectares of greenery and aquatic instalments meant to complement the tower’s three purposes as a hotel, residential building and office space. The park includes a promenade along the Dubai lake, outdoor public spaces and restaurants, a playground and a leisure forest grove, among other features. Burj Khalifa is crowned by an observation deck providing a 360-degree view of the city, to which guests arrive via a high-speed elevator that travels at 10 metres per second.

More than a static structure, Burj Khalifa is consistently incorporated into the socio-cultural fabric of Dubai through a steady stream of activities, events and initiatives. In March 2013, for example, the world’s largest peace dove, composed of 1.2 million buttons in the colours of the UAE flag, was unveiled at the Burj Khalifa complex as part of a ceremony for the first Peace and Sport Middle East Forum, held at the end of April that year.

03 The choreographed Dubai Fountain 04 A view from the top

01 Peering through Burj Khalifa's telescopes02 A close up of the building's exterior

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Open SpacesTashkeel was founded by Sheikha Lateefa bint Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who addressed the need of the artistic community by

forming an open studio to encourage creativity

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design Dubai, UAE054 05501 An art exhibition at Tashkeel02 Artists practicing silkscreening

03 Tashkeel is a collection of studios04 In Tashkeel's darkroom

Tucked away in Dubai’s leafy green suburb of Nad al Sheba is what can only be described as an artistic haven of tranquility. Tashkeel is a collection of large airy studios owned by Sheikha Lateefa bint Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum and open for use to the art community. Sheikha Lateefa, herself a photographer and keen artist, founded Tashkeel in 2007 after identifying a communal need.

‘I felt that it was very difficult for these artists to flourish and grow without access to resources and facilities and, more importantly, without the opportunity to interact and learn from other artists,’ she says. ‘The idea behind Tashkeel was to provide studios where artists could make their work, a gallery to show their work but, more importantly, to develop a community where like-minded creatives could come together and learn from each other.’

Recently celebrating its fifth anniversary, Tashkeel now has an artist residency programme for international artists to share their expertise, a skate park and a year-round schedule of exhibitions. Sheikha Lateefa describes this as ‘an extraordinary and unexpected journey, which has brought many challenges and a great sense of achievement.’

Another regular entry onto Tashkeel’s annual calendar is

I look at things from an artist’s perspective and understand where they

are coming fromSheikhA LATeefA

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design Dubai, UAE056 05701 Photographers at work 02 Tashkeel hosts regular educational workshops

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the many workshops intended to help the development of existing artists and possibly inspire new ones. ‘We hold regular workshops in each of the major studio disciplines that we offer facilities for – printmaking and textile printing, photography, jewellery, drawing and painting – both to introduce artists to new skills and techniques and to help them to improve and expand existing skills,’ says Sheikha Lateefa.

It is a resource that has certainly changed the outlook of many resident artists who otherwise would simply not have the opportunity to practice their skills.

Due to this and her constant support of the national art community in the UAE, Sheikha Lateefa is often referred to as a role model and an ambassador for the artistic community. It is a title that she humbly accepts and does her best to uphold. ‘As the Director of Tashkeel I work closely with artists and designers, and try and help them find their own voice through experimentation in different mediums of art and design. If this doesn’t occur on a one-to-one basis I try and make sure that Tashkeel always provides a range of choice of studios, equipment and workshops.’

Sheikha Lateefa’s own work – a collection of ethereal photographs depicting figures in unusual settings in the UAE landscape – have garnered critical acclaim. She was one of three artists to represent the UAE at the Venice Biennale in 2011 and her image, The Last Look, was used on promotional material to summarise the entire show, titled Second Time Around.

It is partly due to her own experiences then as an artist, she says, that Tashkeel has become so successful. ‘I look at things from an artist’s perspective since that’s my background; so I understand where they are coming from and appreciate the struggles that they go through day in and day out to achieve their goals. The space we provide at Tashkeel is a meeting point for creative minds to interact and possibly collaborate with each other; where there is a possibility of greater artistic endeavours to occur.’

In 2013, the space will host a collaborative show with the jeweller Van Cleef & Arpels as part of the brand's ongoing Metamorphosis exhibition. Always thinking ahead, Sheikha Lateefa says she is excited about the prospects of this collaboration and future projects at Tashkeel.

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Open Courtyard

Khalid Najjar is a star architect and owner of one of Dubai’s few boutique architecture firms. Here he shows us inside his home

01 Khalid Najjar and his wife by their pool

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design Dubai, UAE03 The downstairs kitchen and dining room 04 The house has floor to ceiling windows

01 The exterior of Najjar's Barsha home02 Artwork and photographs 061060

The whitewashed walls reaching towards Dubai’s ubiquitous blue sky betray nothing of the breathtaking exterior. In a dusty plot to the south of the city, in a suburb called Al Barsha, lies Khalid Najjar’s villa, which upon entering feels like stepping into another world. The 15,000-square-foot property is floating on a panel of 1x1 metre marble and the vast floor to ceiling windows reveal the entire living space curved around a courtyard and a large pool. It has been designed and built so as to reveal the rituals of everyday life from every angle.

‘The house is like a stage,’ says Najjar with a sweeping gesture. ‘It is a set for your domestic activities; the theatrics of everyday life.’

The founder and owner of the boutique architecture firm DXB-Lab revels in the enjoyment of life and his eyes sparkle as he describes his space. ‘Everything is very spatial,’ he continues. ‘It is not about rooms, it is about spaces and the house has been designed on a loop so that all of it is used.’

The property is an open plan with two layers designed to have distinctly separate functions. Downstairs, the space comprises a living and dining room that surround a large kitchen, internal courtyard and open onto the pool. It is positioned in such a way that throughout the day the shadows play on the exterior and interior walls and bathe the entire

The house is like a stage for the theatrics

of everyday lifeKHALID NAJJAR

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ground floor in light. Upstairs, where the master bedroom and three smaller bedrooms are located, is divided and it is purposely darker. ‘This is to force everyone to come downstairs and use the communal areas,’ he explains. ‘We have three children and my wife and I love cooking so we spend a lot of time in the kitchen. The whole house is visually connected because of the use of glass and in it we enjoy our daily theatrics.’

The marble or travertine that Najjar sourced for the exterior plate and another similar bench that runs around the entire ground floor level, came from a quarry in Germany but the rest of the house is made from concrete and simpler materials. ‘It is not opulent in terms of material,’ he says. ‘It is actually a play with mostly humble material and a few noble ones. At the end of the day,’ he shrugs, ‘it is an architect’s house.’

Despite displaying dream-like qualities in many aspects, Najjar says this is not so much a Utopian living space, more of an experiment. ‘The house marks a phase in the development of my ideas,’ says the Emirati, who studied in Columbia University in New York. ‘There were several different concepts and it was continuously evolving until it got to the point where I had to stop and build it. I think you could call this a first generation house.’

Contemporary, spatial and open plan might seem to be at

odds with the more traditional houses in the Emirati community, but Najjar explains that the concept is actually one firmly grounded in his roots. ‘It is essentially a courtyard house and the design is very similar to domestic, Arabian architecture, where the elements are turned inwards, creating an environment for the people living there, but not for outsiders to see. This is very much part of our culture.’

Since building the house over 18 months and completing it in 2009, Najjar says he has designed four or five others for his friends and contemporaries and is currently working on a few commercial properties in his native Dubai. ‘We do many different properties, some private, some commercial and some residential but nothing on a large scale,’ he says. ‘I like to keep things on a small to medium level and develop my style.’

Although his days are filled with appointments and site viewings that can stretch on for hours, the architect says there is nothing that makes him happier than reaching home, switching off and cooking a meal for his family. He is a self-confessed home addict.

‘Living like this makes you very aware of your every day life,’ he muses. ‘You don’t take anything for granted. It might look simple but it is truly an experience that you have to live to understand it. Our house might not do everything but it does a few things very well and we are very happy.’

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Watching the Herd

Dr Majid Al Qassimi works at protecting the UAE’s endangered species. He is one of a number of Emiratis with a keen eye on

protecting the natural environment


01 Emirati veterinarian Dr Majid Al Qassimi

agenda Abu Dhabi, UAE066 06701 Dr Al Qassimi vaccinating an oryx02 A herd of oryx

03 Al Qassimi formerly worked with Al Ain Zoo04 The UAE has 3,000 protected animals

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I am part detective, part behaviourist, part doctor, part scientist and part adventurer

MAjiD Al QAssiMi

Amid the hyper-development of his country in terms of architecture, technology and mass communications, Dr Majid Al Qassimi is one of a handful of people working hard to ensure the population does not lose touch with its environment, which defined its way of life less than 50 years ago.

Dr Al Qassimi is a veterinarian, one of only three Emiratis with this professional degree, and holds a full time position at the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi (EAAD) ensuring the 30,000 protected animals stay healthy and free from disease. He is also involved in reintroduction projects in the UAE and across the world. Protecting the delicate desert environment is his way of life and his greatest challenge.

‘All desert ecosystems are delicate, that’s half the beauty of them, how they survive and flourish in such extreme conditions. When a wadi floods, or desert rains wash over the sands, it causes a flurry of activity as ephemeral plants bloom and the desolate environment can be transformed quickly in a matter of 24 hours. This country needs people to be fully aware of this and to work to protect it.’

Dr Al Qassimi takes inspiration from the founding father of the UAE – the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al Nahyan – who was a huge advocate of environmental protection. ‘He was always known to be a champion of the environment and someone who cared for everything in his country, the trees and animals as much as the people. I always believe he was way ahead of his time and our country as it stands today is a testament to that fact. If everyone thought the way he did we

would not have to worry about the environment.’As such, Dr Al Qassimi says that if he ever had to live

outside of the country, he would take a picture of the former leader with him for inspiration

Having always been fascinated with nature, the vet was formerly working in the animal health department in the Al Ain Zoo – a job he says was ‘one of the coolest in the country’. His role took on many different elements such as dental procedures on big cats and vaccinations for oryx and he describes this variety as one of the main reasons he loves his work. ‘I am a doctor whose patients do not communicate directly. I am part detective, part behaviourist, part doctor, part scientist and part adventurer. Vets are problem solvers by nature and must love to get stuck in. That’s me, I will be outside from seven in the morning working with animals. It is both physically as well as mentally demanding but I love how much I know about how nature works and that my work can take me all over the world, in so many disciplines.’

Dr Al Qassimi says that the way to continue his work forward and influence the next generation is through education. He has therefore taken up public speaking and was recently a speaker at TedX Youth in Jumeirah, Dubai. ‘I believe in education and sharing all I have learned for the betterment of my people and country. We have become such a fast paced society. Development in the country must be as well rounded as possible. I feel that the responsibility sits squarely on my shoulders to share what I have learned, as so few of us have taken up this profession,’ he says.

01 Al Qassimi works with the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi

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Because I CareTariq Al Gurg heads up the UAE's leading charity Dubai Cares. It is part of his

daily job to help underprivileged children and to improve their quality of life

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01 Large balloon promoting Dubai Cares

agenda Dubai, UAE072 07301 Tariq Al Gurg, CEO of Dubai Cares02 Dubai Cares helps children around the world

03 Setting up much needed primary schools 04 Al Gurg was appointed CEO in 2009

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It gives me a tremendous sense of fulfillment and satisfaction on both

personal and professional levelsTArIq Al GUrG

With years of experience in senior level corporate and consumer banking behind him and three young children, Tariq Al Gurg is certainly no stranger to negotiation or to leadership. But it is his job as Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Cares where these two skills have united to enable him to lead the philanthropic organisation towards helping some seven million children in developing world countries.

In partnership with major NGOs such as UNICEF and Save the Children, Dubai Cares is implementing comprehensive primary education programmes in 28 countries around the world. Whether it is providing children living in the Upazilas of Bangladesh with an education or helping to finance the rehabilitation of primary schools in disadvantaged areas in the tiny country of Djibouti, Dubai Cares' sole goal is to provide children in developing countries with access to primary education. Al Gurg says his role is hugely rewarding. 'Spearheading the efforts of such a leading philanthropic organisation gives me a tremendous sense of fulfillment and satisfaction on both personal and professional levels,' he says. 'I have three children and I can’t imagine a single day in which they would have to go to bed hungry, or when they would not have access to their basic rights of education, healthcare or safety.'

Appointed to his role in 2009, Al Gurg has travelled to many countries, personally visiting the children and taking stock of their situation. He says it can be a humbling experience. 'I cannot describe the sad state of affairs that I have personally seen some children encounter,' he says. 'Children in the UAE are fortunate and blessed to have access to all their rights, comforts and freedoms. If you visit some of the developing countries, the living conditions and the lack of basic amenities there are shocking. Often children are made to work rather than sent to school; and those who do go to school, often do so under appalling conditions, unsafe school infrastructures, unhygienic surroundings due to the lack of latrines, clean drinking water and handwash facilities, and they have to travel long distances on foot.'

Of the most challenging projects he has undertaken, Al Gurg says that the recent US$16m campaign in Mali, to implement water, sanitation and hygiene (what is referred to as 'WASH') in more than 950 schools, was at the top of his list. Working alongside international NGOs, the program directly supported Malian Government’s policy of school health but it was finding common ground that was the biggest obstacle.

'It took an incredible level of patience and forward-thinking negotiation for Dubai Cares to develop a strategic approach that was taken on board by all partners in Mali,' explains Al Gurg. Now, thanks to his perseverance, the Dubai Cares program along with the additional funding is reaching a total of 1,400 schools and benefitting one in five children in Mali.

Although his role is clearly pivotal in most of the impactful projects, Al Gurg is keen to express that all the good work stems from the key first step taken by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Prime Minister and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates and leader of Dubai and that he is just part of the bigger picture. Humble and true to his roots, this Emirati leader says that his country is very special due to its multicultural inhabitants and that everyone contributes to it being the way it is today.

As for the future, Al Gurg says Dubai Cares will continue with its community engagement platform through regular initiatives in the UAE and will also step up various fundraising efforts to back up their ongoing programming in developing countries.

'As far as our international interventions are concerned, we are committed to achieving a lasting impact through our sustainable educational platforms,' Al Gurg concludes. 'Dubai Cares will continue to maintain its focus on increasing primary education enrollment and retention and will ensure students’ performances by enabling early learning, literacy and numeracy, as well as providing teachers with new knowledge and teaching methods.'

01 A Dubai Cares charity walk

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With oil prices rising and the demand for energy increasing, countries around the Middle East are moving towards solar power. The UAE is leading the way with the launch of its renewable energy project Shams 1.

Led by Masdar, Shams 1 is currently the world’s largest concentrated solar power plant. It uses curved mirrors to focus the heat absorbed from the sun onto a tube filled with oil. The heat from the oil is then transferred to water, producing steam that drives a turbine, which generates electricity. Located in the Western Region of Abu Dhabi and extending over an area of 2.5 square kilometres, the plant has 100MW of installed capacity to meet Abu Dhabi’s growing energy requirements.

According to Masdar, the solar power plant is a crucial factor in line with Abu Dhabi’s 2030 Vision of diversifying the emirate’s energy mix and developing a knowledge-based economy. Designed and developed by Shams Power Company, a joint venture between Masdar, Total of France and Abengoa Solar of Spain, Shams 1 generates enough energy to power 20,000 homes in the UAE.

Solar Solutions

Taking its name from the Arabic word for sun, Shams 1 is the world’s largest operating concentrated solar power plant


02 Shams 1 generates enough energy to power20,000 homes in the UAE

01 The largest operating concentrated solar powerplant in the world

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In 2006, Abu Dhabi established Masdar, a renewable energy company. The government initiative is a subsidiary of the Mubadala Development Company, and an element of the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030, which seeks to transform the emirate’s economy into one that is based on knowledge and innovation. Masdar is divided into three business units and a graduate-level research university. The organisation is at once a university, a renewable energy developer, an investor and a cleantech cluster. The Masdar Institute of Science and Technology encourages innovation in advanced energy and sustainable technologies, Masdar Capital invests in clean technology companies, while Masdar Clean Energy develops large-scale renewable energy and carbon abatement projects.

Future Power

Masdar City has hit the world's headlines with its ambitious plans to become the planet's leading sustainable city

Masdar City is an economic zone and a testing ground for new developments. It is providing solutions to the challenges of sustainable urban planning and development.

Abu Dhabi’s supply of crude oil reserves has long made it a key player in global energy markets. Through Masdar, the emirate is using its resources and experience to invest, incubate and establish the new energy industry in Abu Dhabi and around the world. The company’s goal is to make Abu Dhabi a global centre for renewable energy and sustainable development , complementing its already important role in providing the world with hydrocarbon resources. Abu Dhabi has also committed itself to delivering seven per cent of its energy capacity with renewable sources by 2020.


02 Masdar City is slated for completion in 202501 Masdar City is a low-carbon, low-waste urbandevelopment fully powered by renewable energy

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Into the WindAdil Khalid is a world class sailor and a recent participant in the Volvo

Ocean round the world race. Here he tells us about his sport and his love for his country


01 Emirati sailor Adil Khalid

agenda Abu Dhabi, UAE082 08301 Khalid on his boat02 The Volvo Ocean Race

03 Khalid holding the UAE flag04 The Abu Dhabi Volvo Race sailing team

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I was representing my country in every port;it was a great feeling

Adil KHAlid

In all 10 ports of the round-the-world Volvo Ocean Race, every time the Abu Dhabi ship came into approach Adil Khalid was, without fail, at the flagpole on-board hoisting the red, black, green and white colours of the UAE. ‘I wanted to show the world that the UAE had arrived,’ he tells us. ‘No matter where we were I had to raise the flag – to give full Emirati support.’

In 2012, Khalid was the youngest member aboard an eight-man sailing team in the biannual race that circumnavigates the globe. He was also one of only two Emiratis in the crew and says he took the opportunity to tell people about his country from Portugal to South Africa, New Zealand and beyond. ‘The Volvo was a great race, a great experience both personally and professionally. On one side I was representing my country in sailing and on another at a cultural level. It was a great feeling. I was an ambassador for my country and representing it in every port.’

Khalid says he was asked by scores of people every day about his country, some asked him whether there were restaurants and bars and others inquired about the national dress – abayas and kandoras.

‘It was kind of surprising how little people knew about the

UAE but I told them we have everything here, thousands of places to go and all the sports you can imagine – even skiing!’

While undertaking the nine-month challenge, Khalid put the UAE flag in his cabin by his bed and says it gave him inspiration. ‘Every time I woke up in the morning and I saw my flag behind me, I felt like my whole country was behind me. I knew that I wasn’t doing this race just for sailing, but for them.’

Since returning in July last year, Khalid is now part of the first full Emirati crew in Sailing Arabia – The Tour - a challenge from Bahrain to Qatar, back to the UAE and on to Muscat. He is also helping to develop sailing in the capital in the newly opened Abu Dhabi Sailing and Yacht Club as well as spending a lot of time at the Dubai International Marine Club. ‘It is my dream now to promote sailing in the UAE and the Gulf, so that we become one of the best countries in the world. I love my country first of all and anything I do, I do for my country. I hope that one day we will have an all Emirati team on board the round-the-world yacht. Then we can win it and show the world we are the best. Sheikh Mohammed [bin Zayed al Sultan] always says that we should be number one, so I hope that one day, in sailing, we are.’

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FOR MENEmirati kandoras have no collar. They have a long loose tassle and matching embroidery on the sleeves

FOR WOMENLoose-fitting black abayas are worn by local women in the Gulf, sometimes with subtle decoration

NATIONAL DRESSOne of the Middle East's most well-known styles of traditional dress is the

women's abaya and the men's kandora, worn mostly in the Gulf

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AED50 - AL JAHILI FORT IN AL AINThe Al Jahili Fort in Al Ain is one of the most famous forts in the area. First built during the era of Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa, the fort took seven years to complete.

AED100 - AL FAHIDI FORT Located on the Southern side of Dubai Creek, this fort dates back to 1799 and is one of the oldest architectural pieces in Dubai. First built to defend Dubai against invasions, today it is the home of the Dubai Museum.

AED100 - WORLD TRADE CENTRE Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum ordered the construction of the Dubai World Trade Centre in 1974. Back then, the building was the tallest building on Sheikh Zayed Road.

AED5 - CENTRAL MARKET OF SHARJAH Known as the ‘Islamic Souq’, the market stretches an area of 80 sq km, and is located between Khalid Lagoon and King Faisal Road. Built in 1978, it has two sections connected by tunnels and houses 600 shops.

AED20 - DUBAI CREEK GOLF CLUB The Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club is an 18-hole golf resort located on the Dubai Creek. Opened in January 1993 the design of the club takes inspiration from the traditional dhow boat.

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KNOW YOUR CURRENCYThe official currency of the United Arab Emirates is the UAE dirham. Here

we find out more about the different buildings that are featured on the design of the currency notes

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AED200 - ABU DHABI SHARIA COURTEstablished in 1974, the Abu Dhabi Sharia court is headquartered in Zayed Sports City. The city was established in 1980 and is located in southeast Abu Dhabi with a size able to accommodate 45,000 spectators.

AED200 - UAE CENTRAL BANK HQIn 1973 the United Arab Emirates Central Bank was founded to issue the national currency and to replace any other existing currencies. The circulation of the UAE dirham started on 19th May 1973.

AED500 - GRAND MOSQUE Also known as ‘the two minaret mosque’ the Jumeirah Grand Mosque is one of the most popular places of worship in Dubai. Opening in 1979, the mosque is only one of two that is open to non-muslims.

AED1,000 - AL HOSN PALACE Al Hosn Palace is a prominent historical feature in Abu Dhabi. The palace was built by Sheikh Shakhboot bin Zayed Al Nahyan when the seat of government moved from Liwa Oasis to Abu Dhabi in 1793.

AED1,000 - ABU DHABI CORNICHESpreading across an impressive eight kilometres of manicured waterfront the Abu Dhabi Corniche is one of the first major tourist attractions in the UAE and is one of the most popular ones today.

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ARABIAN LINGOBoth expatriates and locals are known to use different words from the

Arabic language. Here we feature some of the most popular sayings:

'MARHABA' — HELLOMarhaba is a common greeting in Arabic which is used to say 'Hello'.

'SALAM ALEKOM'— TRADITIONAL GREETINGAnother Arabic greeting to say 'Hello' or 'Good Day', meaning 'peace be upon you'

'YELLAH'— LET'S GOYellah is a very popular word in the Arabic language and means 'hurry' or 'let's go'.

'NA'AM'— YESNa'am is the Arabic word for 'yes' and sometimes 'what'.

09509401 The exterior of Abu Dhabi's Central Souk

A Spot of Shopping

The Central Souk in Abu Dhabi is a Foster + Partners design, set in the heart of the old city and intended to reignite the shopping experience


Abu Dhabi, UAEtravel 097096

Built on the site of a market that was commissioned by Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al Nahyan, to replace an even older souk close by in the 1970s, the original souk in Abu Dhabi was by all accounts a rough and ready collection of barasti stalls between the beach and Al Hosn fort when Abu Dhabi was just a fishing village.

But now, Abu Dhabi's new Central Souk, which opened in 2010, is a gleaming example of the city's development, while at the same time managing to fuse old with new in a way that only the UAE's capital seems to master. All over the capital, the thriving centre of life in the UAE, there are marvels to behold. The shining gold of the Emirates Palace and the glittering blue seas that can be appreciated from the city's sculpted breakwater. Not to mention all the construction that has taken place out of town over recent years, that are giving way to islands such as Saadiyat, soon to be home to the Louvre and the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi and Yas, which is now an annual stop off in the prestigious Formula One calendar. But closer to home in the city's centre, the souk is now drawing the crowds.

Designed by Foster + Partners, it is an expansive building, and has been laid out as a sequence of courtyards and alleys, integrating balconies and colonnades. With hints of the historic market that existed before it, the new souk presents shoppers with intricate wooden latticework, expansive indoor spaces and an Andalusian-style fountain.

The shops themselves are a mixture of high-end boutiques, souvenir shops and a smattering of cafés and restaurants. It is something that central Abu Dhabi was in need of, with most of the more modern developments being out of town in the malls or in the waterside developments near the bridges. However, the real show-stopper is the building itself.

Of course, with Norman Foster and his team behind it, it was expected that the souk would be something special. The British architect, who also designed Masdar City, the UAE National Pavilion and has a hand in the Zayed National Museum coming to fruition on Saadiyat Island, it was only fair that the city centre had its fair share of his creative expertise.

So, while the air conditioning and the wide corridors make

it seem like just another shopping mall, the trick is in the design. Low rise and petite compared to the three Podium towers that surround it, when completed it will house residential developments, luxury offices and a hotel and the souk is scaled to the pedestrian. Inside, the intimate sequence of streets and alleys are supposed to recreate what the old souk would have been like, while the courtyards dissolve the barriers between inside and outside. It also has flexible sliding roofs and walls to enable control of internal environments, and to maximise potential for natural ventilation.

With such large amounts of wood, it can be quite dark in places but the souk is also a welcome relief from the scorching heat of the UAE climate and the bright sunlight.

Khalid Haddad, a teenager shopping with his friends says he prefers to come here rather than the malls. 'I like it here,' he says. 'It is more relaxing and kind of old fashioned. But it is still really new and really cool.' Nearby Heba Mohammed, a Palestinian housewife, says she comes here to pick up groceries.

'There is a greengrocer here, which we don't have anywhere else in Abu Dhabi and I like it because it is built like the souks used to be. I hope that more shops open soon.'

With many outlets still to be filled and the accompanying podium towers not yet complete, the souk still has a long way to go before it becomes the masterpiece that it is intended to be. However, for the time being there is no doubt that a trip to the capital is not complete without a stop off at the market.

01 Where was the inspiration taken from for the design?We were inspired by the traditional souk and the role that it plays in civic life in the Middle East. Central Market is designed to conjure up all of its colours, patterns and fragrances, as well as the dappled sunlight and intense activity.

Was the original vision for the Central Souk easy to realise?The project had a long history, prior to our involvement, and there was a need to restore the accommodation for the market traders that were once based on the site. Because of this, the different uses were clearly defined at an early stage – this actually gave the team great freedom to focus on the design.

Were there any attempts to align this with current Abu Dhabi architecture?Our design followed a process of detailed research into local building styles and analysis of the way people used the space. We looked at the scale of the traditional souk, its dense network of internal streets, its variety of textures and patterns, and drew on these elements using a combination of traditional and contemporary techniques and materials. Light was also an important consideration in this part of the retail podium – it evokes the atmosphere of the traditional souk and helps to bring the interiors to life.

How many visitors was it built to accommodate?More than 6,000 people.

When will it be fully functional?It has been partly functional since 2010 and will be fully functional upon completion of the podium towers.

Gerard EvendenSenior PArTner oF FoSTer + PArTnerS AnD PArT oF The TeAm behinD The CenTrAl Souk, Abu DhAbi

01 The building was designed by Foster + Partners02 A more traditional shop within the souk

03 A view from the top of the souk's interior04 The building's intricate wooden latticework

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09909801 A tower in Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood

Beside the Creekside

Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood is one of the oldest heritage sites in Dubai and home to many of the city’s

art galleries

Dubaiدبي

100 101Dubai, UAEtravel

Stepping into Dubai’s Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood is quite literally like taking an excursion through the UAE’s history books. As clichéd as it might sound, you actually have to experience it to believe it. The entire area is a reconstruction of a village populated by wind towers and palm-fronted houses and if you take a moment to wander through the narrow lanes, taking in the bird song and enjoying the shade of the palm trees, you might just be able to imagine what life was like here before the discovery of oil.

Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, or Bastakiya as it is known locally, is home to a number of art galleries, cafés and the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding. It is a place to go and learn about the history of the city and the intricacies of the culture as well as, of course, taking a welcome break from the hustle and bustle of Sheikh Zayed Road.

Twice a week, the SMCCU hosts open breakfasts for tourists; they gather in the majlis area and share typical Emirati food whilst sat cross legged on the floor. It is also a chance to ask the local representative any questions they might have. Tony Adams is a Brit visiting Dubai for the third time with his wife and two children. They come to Bastakiya to experience the culture. 'Everyone thinks Dubai is all about shopping and beaches but we like to come to this area and learn more about the Emirati way of life,' he says. 'After breakfast we will wander through the art galleries and then up to cross the Creek on the ferry.'

Alongside the wind towers and the pink and white bougainvillea populating Bastakiya’s alleys is Dubai’s busy waterway, The Creek. This is where many of Dubai’s first trading immigrants would exchange goods in the early 19th century, and such legacy is still alive today. Ships laden with goods from across the Gulf arrive and unload their wares on the other side near to the gold and spice souks. But all this action is a world away from the sun-bathed courtyards of Bastakiya.

In the XVA and Majlis galleries, art from across the region can be enjoyed in relative peace and the area is also home to the headquarters of the Sikka Art Fair – the only fair dedicated to Emiratis and UAE residents. The Emirates Airline Festival of Literature has also recently moved into the Dar Al Adaab: The House of Literature and there are several events held here all year round.

For the more meticulous explorer, a closer inspection will yield further gems. The Mawaheb Centre for Beautiful People is an art studio for those with special needs. The villa doors are open every day and the sounds of music and laughter flow from within. Just around the corner is the city’s Coins Museum where more than 470 rare coins are housed from different historical eras, some dating back thousands of years and the Al Fahidi Fort.

Inside the main building, there is coffee and tea for visitors and the chance to see old photographs of Dubai’s undeveloped coastline in the 1960s and 1970s. If you want a guided walking

tour then the SMCCU organises them regularly for a small fee.

To round off your day in Bastakiya, you must try the Bastakiah Nights restaurant. Housed in a traditional open roofed building, you can sit inside or outside and even if the restaurant is packed, the maze of decadently decorated rooms makes you feel as if you are in your own private restaurant. It serves Arabic and Emirati food and comes highly recommended if you want to taste some traditional dishes and sweets.

What do you like about the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood (Bastakiya)?Even if I hadn’t opened the centre here I would still visit as often as possible because it is my favourite area of town. Bastakiya is a beautiful and historic area and should definitely be explored.

Do you get many visitors here at Mawaheb?Yes, sometimes it is really busy and sometimes we get whole bus loads of tourists coming in to see us. This is what we want, we want as many people as possible to know about us.

Are people who live in the UAE fully aware of the area?No. It sounds ridiculous but people think it is too far away from the city to come and visit and they also complain about the parking. Also, we need more collaboration in the area between the different organisations here so that more people are attracted to come.

What is the best thing to do while visiting Bastakiya?There are beautiful places to eat here and some incredible places to see art, as well as take in the area. There is a lot to do here and in a few minutes you can walk to the souk and the museum.

Wemmy De MaakerFouNDer oF MAwAHeb Art CeNtre

01 A shop owner in Bastakiya02 Artwork on display

03 An artist at work 04 Visitors enjoying one of Bastakiya's courtyards

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102 10301 A model of Sharjah Museum of Islamic

Civilization

Cultural OasisSharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization was the first museum of its kind in the UAE and stands as a cultural landmark of importance for both the

Islamic faith and the vast history of the Islamic era

Sharjahالشارقة

104 105Sharjah, UAEtravel

Sitting opposite a grimy, bustling dockyard on Majarrah Waterfront is the splendorous Sharjah Museum for Islamic Civilization with its golden gilded dome that catches the eye, glistening in the sunlight. Its spacious vaults cover huge swathes of Islamic history, including science, technology and design. It also includes periodic exhibitions from some of history’s greatest calligraphic and geometric artists such as the work of 19th century British architect Owen Jones. Its zodiac-decorated rooftop highlights the close relationship between the religion and science and once inside, the cool and airy corridors are a welcome relief from the dusty, traffic-laden roads.

On any given day a steady flow of visitors stream into the complex and explore the exhibits. On the ground floor a visual

storyboard accompanied by ancient pieces such as sun dials and early watches reveal the advances in science and technology that can be attributed to the Islamic era, and there is also a simple and informative introduction to the pillars of the faith. The middle floor consists of four galleries exhibiting artifacts such as weapons, ceramics, textiles and clothing from many Islamic countries, representing all periods of Islamic history from its beginnings in the Abbasid and Umayyad eras to the Ottoman and Mamluk eras with distinctive features from each period. On the top floor is a much-lauded rest area with a snack bar, where the visitor can appreciate its azure dome.

Mohammed Somjay, an Indian expatriate who lives in Abu Dhabi, is visiting the museum while visiting relatives in Sharjah. ‘I bring my children here because I want to show them the rich Islamic history,’ he says. ‘They learn a lot about it at school but this is something different, something more interactive. Also it is a nice place to bring the family.’

Alongside a multitude of recognitions from international organisations, including being named as UNESCO’s cultural capital of the Arab World in 1998, Sharjah now has 16 museums – more than the rest of the emirates put together. The Museum of Islamic Civilization is a veritable treasure trove, housing more than 5,000 artefacts.

Manal Ataya, the director of the Sharjah Museums Department said at a recent event that: ‘The role of museums in the Arab world has recently become an ever more important topic of discussion, and more so, as they offer kaleidoscopic opportunities for education, knowledge creation and self-development for individuals, communities and societies.’ Of all the 16 institutions, the Museum of Islamic Civilization is one of the largest and most well established. In the 1970s it was reserved for the fruit and vegetable market but then it underwent renovation and was reopened in 2008 by His Highness Dr Sultan bin Mohammad Al Qasimi to mark a new era in the emirate’s cultural contribution to the UAE. Entry to the museum is only five dirhams but if you go on Saturday, entry is free.

Outside of the museum there is a rugged charm that is hard to find in other parts of the Gulf. Close by is the extremely well populated art museum and opposite to the offices of Sharjah Art Foundation (home to the country’s only biennale) the building can be said to be the beating heart of the city.

A little further along the Corniche is the Central Souq. Also know as the Blue Souq owing to the blue-hued tile shell, this shopping centre is a warren of stalls selling jewellery, tailor-made suits and souvenirs and is a place many residents go to get the best deals on household items, clothing and gold.

01 Entry to the museum is only five dirhams02 The museum's zodiac-decorated rooftop

03 An exhibition within one of the museum's galleries04 The museum houses many Islamic artifacts

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106 10701Fujairah's fish market

Beside the Seaside

Fujairah’s bustling fish market is off the beaten track of the normal tourist trail, but certainly worth the effort

Fujairahالفجيرة

108 109Fujairah, UAEtravel

As soon you pop over the top of the Hajar moutains and enter Fujairah, it is easy to see why this emirate is considered by many to be the most picturesque. Rolling red desert gives way to craggy limestone peaks and, in the troughs and dips, ghaf trees grow, resilient to the soaring summer temperatures.

But venture a little further and the horizon begins to glitter – Fujairah is the easternmost emirate and home to the only city on the Arabian sea.

It is for this reason that, on any given morning in the sleepy seaside town, the fish market is thriving. Its proximity to the sea means that the produce here is bigger, fresher and by all accounts, tastier than the fare found in the markets of Abu Dhabi or Dubai.

Although Fujairah’s market is smaller, it is often the first stop for the fishermen, who arrive before sunrise with their catches and sell their stock in a crude auction, where vendors (mostly from the Sub-Continent) jostle for the best deal.

Once secured, the fish are wheeled into the tile-floored market and swiftly passed on to the men who crouch in a central pit descaling and gutting their catch before setting them on ice-filled slabs for sale.

‘Our fish is the best,’ boasts Mohamed, a young fish seller from Bangladesh. ‘It is the freshest. Only a few hours ago, this was in the sea,’ he says while gesturing to a large speckled hammour.

The hammour is one of hundreds of fish waiting to be prepared and consumed as the day ensues. As the customers begin to flow in and the noise level raises, king fish, sultan

Ibrahim and piles of shrimp and squid are sliced and shovelled into blue plastic bags. The most popular sale is sardines, which at five dirhams a kilo, are about as cheap a meal as you can find in this neck of the woods. But despite the reasonable prices, no market would be the same without its fair share of haggling. Using silent but forcefully understood hand gestures, local women in niqab are among the best bargainers and the vendors do their best to get their business. Fathers teach their wide-eyed sons about selecting the meatiest-looking catch and older men raise the bottoms of their kandora to avoid it trailing on the blood-stained floor, whilst indicating which fish they would like to buy.

Ahmed, a Palestinian father of four, explains that he comes here once a month ahead of a huge family feast: ‘I buy shrimps and hammour,’ he tells us. ‘It will be for lunch today.’

Situated off the city’s corniche, a stone’s throw from the ocean, the market is also a popular spot for amateur fishermen heading out for a day at sea. Richard Pickup, a Dubai resident from the UK, says that he comes every weekend to stock up on bait. ‘A lot of people never leave the city and get stuck into that routine but there is so much to do in the UAE, it’s a real shame not to come to Fujairah.’

The fish market is part of the larger complex of Al Ghorfa Central Market, which also houses a number of butchers, fruit and vegetable stores and a selection of tailors and clothing shops. Coming to life at 7am, the day’s business is usually over by lunchtime but it is definitely worth getting up early.

01 Gutting fish before their sale02 A vendor displays a large crab

03 Customers constantly haggle with vendors04 Sardines are the most popular fish

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110 11101 The exterior of the Ajman Museum

Fortress of Ideas

It might be the smallest emirate but Ajman is full of cultural highlights, and the Ajman Museum is just one of many hidden secrets

Ajmanعجمان

112 113Ajman, UAEtravel

It is in such good condition and the scenes inside are populated with such realistic figurines, that you would be forgiven for thinking the entire Ajman Museum’s fort structure was an extremely well constructed replica. However it is one of the oldest functional buildings in the country. Built in the late eighteenth century from coral stone and gypsum, the fort was preserved and restored by Sheikh Rashid Bin Humaid (1803-1838) and was home to the Ajman ruling family until 1970 when it became the police headquarters.

It was made into a museum in the 1980s and each room was populated with plastic figurines to demonstrate what they would have been used for had it still been populated. Other rooms were used to show other elements of life in pre-oil, pre-unified UAE such as a traditional barbershop, a coffee shop and a whole quarter dedicated to the commercial sport of pearling.

Yousef Al Mansouri, a tour guide who takes great pleasure in showing groups of school children and other visitors around on a daily basis, says that up to 400 people come every day. ‘Every emirate is different,’ he says. ‘Here in Ajman we don’t have skyscrapers like Dubai and maybe less shops and restaurants but we have more heritage and it is better preserved. There is a lot that happens here that people don’t know about.’

As a case in point he indicates a small room filled with out-dated recording equipment. ‘We had the first national radio station,’ he beams. Ajman Radio was founded in 1961

by Rashid Abdullah bin Hamadhu. Presenters included a blind teacher of the Quran who delivered the Friday sermon in the Grand Mosque in Ajman and a teacher who hosted a listener’s request show. The station was battery operated and was so popular that Hamadhu erected a 30 metre antennae atop his house in the east of the emirate until he was forced to close in 1965 due to lack of funding.

Elsewhere in the museum, visitors are welcomed to imagine what a traditional Emirati Bedouin wedding would look like and are even shown how prisoners were detained. A teacher from the Islamic School in Dubai, who is here escorting her class, says that it is a wonderful place for education. ‘We must teach the children about the history of their country,’ she says. ‘This is a great place to do it. For example, lots of these children can’t imagine a life without cars or electricity. But here they can see it in a realistic way.’

Peppered among the recreations are portraits of actual heroes from generations gone by. Although Al Mansouri is originally from Umm Al Qawain, he says he takes pride in seeing his ancestors and their achievements.

Malvin Ferreo, an Indian who has lived in Dubai for 10 years, says he always brings his visitors here to Ajman. ‘It is in the countryside,’ he says. ‘It is good to remember that people still follow the old traditions and you can really experience something different here. It is a slower life and one that people don’t expect to see when they come to the UAE.

01 A plastic figurine of an Emirati basket weaver02 A display of traditional Emirati crafts

03 An educational museum tour04 Students enjoying a museum display

Tell us about the Ajman Tourism Development Department?It was established upon an Emiri Decree last year and only began operations on January 1st 2013. ATDD has 12 tasks, mainly supervising and maintain the sustainability of the various tourism operations in the Emirate of Ajman.

What is the mission of the department?ATDD’s mission is the development and sustainability of the emirate’s tourism sector, in order to make Ajman the destination of choice for all types of tourists through effective, strategic partnerships and continuous innovation.

Are you making any efforts internationally?Yes. In 2013 we will travel to Berlin, Zurich, Riyadh and the Arabian Travel Market here in Dubai. It is very new for us and we are looking forward to showing the world what Ajman has to offer.

What does it have to offer?The emirate of Ajman is a unique tourism experience, combining the wonders of our history and archaeology with the recreational, ecological and religious attractions for the whole family. Ajman’s unique diversity combines to attract investments, which are fully supported by the Ajman Goverment.

Faisal Ahmed Al NuaimiDIrector GenerAl of AjMAn tourIsM DevelopMent DepArtMent

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114 11501 Slides at Dreamland water park

Making a Splash

Dreamland is the biggest water park in the whole region. It is nearly two decades old but still attracts many visitors as an ideal way to enjoy the

outdoors all year round

Umm Al Quwainأّم القوين

116 117Umm Al Quwain, UAEtravel

Beyond the urban sprawl of Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman and along the stretch of the UAE’s glittering coastline is the modest emirate of Umm al Quwain. Although it doesn’t bathe too often in the spotlight, the area should not be overlooked – it hosts some of the most unspoilt beaches and clear blue seas and perhaps surprisingly, it is also home to the Middle East’s largest water park.

Covering 250,000 square metres, Dreamland was built in 1995 – making it the oldest as well as the largest park in the country. It has a huge variety of waterslides and even facilities for overnight camping, meaning it can accommodate thousands of guests in any 24-hour period.

Michel Farhat, the operations manager for the park says that although many competitors have sprung up in recent years, Dreamland is still the best.

‘The other parks might seem like good places to go but in the long run, I think we have the most to offer. We have more space, more variety and not too many restrictions,’ he says.

Whether you want to bob around the Lazy River or power down the Twisting Dragons – water slides winding down the hillside – Dreamland’s rides are all rated on a 'thrill' scale, so there is something for all the family. Students Jhanzeb Yassin and Marium Binte Badr were enjoying a day off from university in Sharjah. ‘We come here in the week because it is quiet,’ says Yassin before diving into the wave pool. ‘And it’s much cheaper than the other water parks.’

Binte Badr says she really likes her regular excursions to Umm Al Quwain. ‘It might not be glamourous like Dubai, but it is calm and relaxed. It is nice to come somewhere different.’

The young couple are not alone in their opinion. Jaime Lemmer, a mother of two from Zimbabwe, visits the park regularly with her family because she wants to get away from the crowds. ‘Even in the summer we come here,’ she says. ‘It’s so much better than spending the whole day inside a mall.’

And that is where Umm Al Quwain’s charm lies. It is far behind even its nearest neighbour Ras Al Khaimah in terms of development but there is a lot to do if you want to make the most of the water. Many keen fishermen depart on day trips from the emirate’s long coastline and the unusual sport of crabbing is also practiced in the dead of night along some of its more deserted beaches.

In Dreamland itself they also have their fair share of wildlife. A petting zoo with deer, rabbits and monkeys is situated at the centre of the park and the plastic hippos by the children’s playing area keep many visitors amused.

‘My kids absolutely love it here,’ says Lemmer as her eight-year-old son jumps in and out of the water. ‘And we know they are totally safe to run around as much as they like because there are plenty of lifeguards on duty.

‘There might not be that much to do in Umm Al Quwain – it is a very quiet place – but for us, that is all we need.’

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01 Dreamland's kiddie pool 02 A family enjoying the facilities

03 Dreamland is the oldest water park in the UAE04 The water park's busy season is March to August

Why do people come to Dreamland?Even though we are the oldest water park in the UAE, we are still the best. We have beautiful landscaped gardens, lots of space – over 250,000 square metres – and a relaxed atmosphere. Also we have competitive prices and usually there are no queues. Although other parks offer new things, we are still one of the most popular places for tourists and residents to come and spend a day of fun.

What are your busiest seasons?Usually from the middle of March to the end of August. Although the weather is hotter during this time, the water is not artificially heated so it is at the best temperature in these months and it is a great way to cool off in the heat of the summer. In Ramadan we don’t get many guests in the day, but many Westerners come and use the camping facilities.

What is Umm Al Quwain like as a tourist destination?It is very quiet and there is not much in terms of nightlife but here at Dreamland we offer a relaxing environment. Also there is some development here now – nobody knows what will happen in the future.

Is it overshadowed by neighbouring emirates?Of course there is not the same level of facilities as in Dubai or Abu Dhabi and we are close to Ras Al Khaimah where they are developing quickly and they even have a water park there now, but Umm Al Quwain is unique – that’s what makes it special.

Michel FarhatOperatIOns & FOOD anD Beverage Manager, DreaMlanD

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118 11901 The Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah is famous for its

wildlife

Mangroves and Mountains

For an escape outside of the city and to find peace in the natural world, Ras Al Khaimah is the place to rest your laurels

Ras Al Khaimahرأس الخيمة

120 121Ras Al Khaimah, UAEtravel

Where Abu Dhabi has infrastructure, Dubai has urbanism and Sharjah has culture, Ras Al Khaimah has wildlife and is considered to be the nature destination of the Emirates. With the highest peak in the UAE – Jebel Jais – and plenty of unspoilt mangroves, the emirate has mountains, seas and deserts all within a triangular shaped land mass. 'I'm not just saying this but Ras Al Khaimah has everything and we are developing fast,' says Mohamed Al Suwaidi, a local resident and pearl farmer. 'We are of course, the best emirate.' Whether Al Suwaidi is exaggerating or not, it doesn't matter. A trip to Ras Al Khaimah will afford even the most seasoned of travellers a pleasant surprise because within one hour's drive of the vertiginous Burj Khalifa are the beautiful mangroves of Khor Al Rams and plenty more to boot.

'The thing is you can't make a mountain,' says Al Suwaidi. 'And we have many wonderful mountains, thank God.' Even

in the town centre the high rise towers are nothing in comparison to the peaks behind and, whether it is a spot of fishing by the sea or something more active like kite-surfing or fishing, Ras Al Khaimah has many options for experiencing the natural world.

Ebtisam Agrama, who was shopping in Al Hamra Mall, says that she lives in Ras Al Khaimah with her family because it is quiet. 'My husband works in Dubai but he says he doesn't mind the drive, he would rather do that and spend the weekends here on the beach or in the mountains than in the malls. For me and the children it is great, it is really quiet, there are no queues in the shops and I feel safe letting them run around the neighbourhood.'

As you approach the city of Ras Al Khaimah, you traverse through the dusty industrial outskirts – home to RAK Ceramics, the world's largest ceramics manufactuer – and

01 Kayaking in Ras Al Khaimah02 Jebel Jais is the UAE's highest peak

03 Kitesurfing in Ras Al Khaimah04 A tourist enjoying the emirate's unspoilt nature

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122 123Ras Al Khaimah, UAEtravel

clusters of new developments. But upon entering the town, the tree-lined Al Qawassim Corniche offers a peek at Ras Al Khaimah's natural delights, even if you don't want to do more exercise than a gentle walk. With views over the RAK Creek, which is often used by practicing rowers or other boaters, the walkway is open for cycling too and is a lovely way to while away an afternoon in the northern emirate.

For those wanting to go further afield, the mountains are a popular spot with climbers and up the coast, dhows and speed boats leave regularly for diving trips up to the Musandam.

Leaving from the Al Hamra Port, day trips up to the Fjords of the East are a spectacular way to discover the natural

beauty and it is not unusual to spot dolphins and even whale sharks on these maritime adventures.

On the way out of town, the Al Jazeera Al Hamra Fort is an insight into the emirate's layered history. The town is the site of an old fishing village but it has been unoccupied since 1968 as it is thought to be haunted. The crumbling fort and an eerie collection of half-built structures are criss-crossed by main paths that meander through the mosques, and houses with features like wooden doors, star windows, wind-towers and courtyards towards the sea. However, all of these structures lie in varying degrees of decay. It could be an interesting way to round off your trip to the northern-most emirate of the UAE.

01 The emirate boasts mountains, seas and desert02 A fisherman by the water

03 Al Qawassim Corniche in town is lined with trees04 Ras Al Khaimah is also known for pearl farming

Ras Al Khaimah has everything and we are developing fast

MohAMed Al SuwAidi

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