Desertscape Series 1 - Circle of Life

 

A poignant photo to end the year with of a near perfectly preserved camel slowing being taken back by the desert from where it once lived. The desertscape series 2 will be back next year!

Desertscape Series 1

 

Desert hyacinths - blooming lovely!

Desertscape Series 1

 

Welcome to Desertscapes - an online exhibition of the magnificent sand dunes located 75km from Abu Dhabi.

Desertscape Series 1

 

Welcome to Desertscapes - an online exhibition of the magnificent sand dunes located 75km from Abu Dhabi.

Desertscape Series 1

 

Welcome to Desertscapes - an online exhibition of the magnificent sand dunes located 75km from Abu Dhabi.

Desertscape Series 1

 

Welcome to Desertscapes - an online exhibition of the magnificent sand dunes located 75km from Abu Dhabi.

Happy holidays from Abu Dhabi!

 

Ho, Ho, Ho from Me & Abu Dhabi Daily Photo

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Building the future

 

A new mosque going up in Al Khaldyia district.

Welcome to Lulu Island!

 

After a Dh15 ($4) ten-minute ferry trip, a bus or electric toy train circumnavigates the island dropping and collecting people along the way. There are two stretches of beach on the north and south shores. Apart from a couple of cafes and artificial lakes, the rest of the island is rough terrain. Good fun nevertheless.

View of Lulu Island from the Corniche

 

Lulu Island (in the background) is a man-made six square kilometre island which has been open to the public for the past 1 ½ years. However, the island is set for major development with a mixed commercial and residential projects in the pipeline. Tomorrow, if I can catch a boat, I'll take you over and show you around.

Look mom - No hands!

 

Being an island, jet skis are really popular around Abu Dhabi and make for some unusual action shots (like this one).

An Oasis in the City

 

Welcome inside Capital Gardens! The park is clean and beautifully maintained offering water features, grass lawns and shaded areas as well as spectacular views of the city’s skyline. It also has the Moulin Rouge Café, where you can get a coffee and smoke a shisha pipe with a friend.

Capital Gardens

 

This is the imposing entrance to Capital Gardens, located between Sheikh Khalifa & Sheikh Hamdan Street (a principal thoroughfare). It’s nearly 40 years old (which is ancient for here) and costs 1 Dirham ($27 cents) to enter. Tomorrow we will go inside!

The Giant Coffee Pot

 

Alice in wonderland-ish giant coffee pot at Al-Ittihad Square.

The Big Canon at Al-Ittihad Square

 

There are several other ‘monuments’ in this square including a giant coffee pot, incense burner and perfume bottle, all of which you'll see here another day.

The Emirates Palace Atrium

 

The whole interior of the hotel is covered in 22-carat gold leaf.

The Emirates Palace Archway

 

The impressive Arc de Triomphe-style entrance built with Italian stone.

The Abu Dhabi Dolphins

 

Workers give a local dolphin a new lick of paint.

Contemporary Terracotta Warriors

 

Thanks to Jing from Shanghai (see comments) I've found out these are by the artist Yue Minjun and were commissioned to promote the new Guggenheim Foundation, which opens in Abu Dhabi 2012.

The Gathering Storm

 

A panoramic view of the Abu Dhabi skyline from Mina Port after some recent unsettled weather.

Dancing in the Streets

 

Afghanis celebrating Eid al Adha on Jebel Hafeet Mountain in Al Ain.

Silence of the Lambs

 

A local shepherd sells his goats and sheep in preparation for the ritual slaughter of Eid al Adha. A goat will set you back US$95 and a ram $240.

National Day through the eyes of a child

 

Emirati children enjoying National Day activities at the ADNOC Heritage Village on the Corniche

Smoke and Mirrors

 

The cool water feature at Marina Mall

Painting the Town Red (green, black & white)

 

Emiratis revel in decorating their cars in colours of the national flag, parading the streets in celebration of UAE's independence.

Dancing The Night Away

 

An Emirati performs his traditional dance at ADNOC Heritage Village

Convivial Merriment

 

UAE National Day(s) (2nd & 3rd Dec) gives Emiratis the chance to look back and be proud of the development and achievements of their country.

Light Me Up

 

Most of Abu Dhabi is currently lit up as government and big corporates decorate their buildings for the 37th National Day (and kindly leave them on for Christmas).

Happy 37th Birthday UAE!

 

National Day festivities commemorating the UAE's 37th year of independence.

Sheikh Zayed's Grand Mosque

 

Another view of Sheikh Zayed's Grand Mosque which took 10 years and $545 million to build. And yes, it's real gold you can see up there!