en.infoglobe.cz » United Arab Emirates I: Dubai – Magic Island in the middle of Arabian World or Fatamorgana?

United Arab Emirates I: Dubai – Magic Island in the middle of Arabian World or Fatamorgana?

Published: 23.2.2015
Climbing high to the sky is the tower of Babylon called Burj Khalifa. The tower reaches up to 828 meters, vain shopping culture in huge shopping malls, the symbol of greed, avarice, gluttony, pride, and extravagant consumerism…

výhled z letadla

Or is it different? Isn’t rather a forgotten Oriental place that became the pride of the Emirates for its diligence and faith in the future? výhled z letadla

I have been looking forward to the Emirates very much. I was here at the Global Village shopping festival seven years ago. There were not that many buildings here… We land at huge airport that has three terminals and six runways …

The Emirtes were founded by charismatic Sheikh Zayed coming from the royal family of Al Nahyan. Today, his portraits are everywhere and he is nicknamed Father of the Emirates for his success in uniting kingdom in dispute into one working country. This happened on December 2, 1971. The people of the eirates will never forget this day. He reigned 33 years, he loved horses and falkons. He used to be a scout so he founded a scouting center. When Abu Dhabi became the governor in 1946, he had his residence in Al Ain oasis. He initiated a huge project of cleansing old water channels and planting trees. In 1966, he replaced his brother Shakbut and became the ruler of the Abu Dhabi emirate for his brother hadn’t kept pace with the times. He died on November 2, 2004. He is buried in a mosque in Abu Dhabi. The mosque bears his name, the Sheik Zayed mosque. Today his oldest son is the president, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al Nahyan.

zleva šejk Khalifa, šejk Zayed, korunní princ

So I had a break for a while. Now I am about to set off to the Dubai’s heart. The word Dubai means two brothers meaning two parts of Dubai on both banks of the Creek. Well, Burj Dubai and Deira. The Dubai Emirate is ruled by the Al Maktoum royal family. Today, Dubai is ruled by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum. He loves horses, and competes in distance horse races in Arabian desert.

Dubaj - pevnost Al Fahidi

I cross the Al Maktoum bridge. I stop at first to see the beautiful panorama of the Creek. I enjoy the vista of the Dubai National Bank. There is a pearl museum on one of its floors. People had been catching pearls for hundreds of years. They retrieved beautiful pink pearles. A pearl diver dived 50x times a day down to 15 meters. The amount he had to dive for was a dozen pearl mussels. It is of prism shape with a cut-off tip. The Etisalat telecommunication is completed with a huge golf ball on its roof. To the right there are two Rolex buildings.

One wouldn’t believe that the Creek is no river yet just a branch of the Persian Gulf. Water is salty there. It is 15 kilometer long, there are projects tha want to make it longer up to 30 kilometers altogether. Here in Dubai, no one could be stopped in constructing new buildings. On the opposite bank of the Creek, there are wooden trade ships called Dhows. Today they have engines, before they had sails. It seems all these years changed nothing. They lie at anchor here in the same way like 200 years ago.

pevnost Al Fahidi

To be continued...

Text/photo: Sylvie Halouzková

 



Discussion at the article (0)


Related Articles

UAE, Abu Dhabi – Grand Mosque
Published: 1.3.2019
Abu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates. It is dominated by high-rise buildings with distinctive shapes and wide boulevards. Abu Dhabi was founded around the middle of the 18th century by the nomadic tribe of Bani Yas.

UAE, Dubai – How to Spend Six Hours of Waiting?
Published: 13.7.2015
Huge airport with many shops, cafes, and benches. Can you, however, shop for six hours in a row? Lets answer this important question: Be bored at airport chairs, or set off for a night minitrip in the city? I am for the second option. If adventure then from very beginning. A vacation is about journey. We set off from the airport to Dubai.

United Arab Emirates VI: From Al Ain to Ras al Khaimah Emirate
Published: 30.3.2015
Jeeps were great. First, we were just roaming on the road for half an hour and then headed to the desert. We released some air from the tires so the car wouldn’t jump so much. In a moments notice we were driving down the dunes like we were skiing and not sitting in the car. On dunes’ edges and then up and steeply down… Another dune even higher than the last one.

United Arab Emirates V: Dates and Camels
Published: 23.3.2015
I am already looking to see the oasis. It is surrounded with a wall. Inside is the whole irrigation system – concrete channels. The place has high date palm. More than 120 palm species are in the Emirates, only 20 of them, however, have edible fruits. Their fruits are used often as animal fodder.

United Arab Emirates IV: Al Ain
Published: 16.3.2015
Today I am about to visit Al Ain oasis. Its name means “a spring”. After my journey to the second largest city of the Abu Dhabi emirate, I pass by couple of camel race tracks. These used to be some very popular races.

United Arab Emirates III: Abu Dhabi
Published: 9.3.2015
It is hard to record what was happening, there was so much. I am traveling again. This time I am about to enjoy the panorama in the luxurious seven star hotel Emirates Palace. Dubai has a fabulous hotel Burj al Arab and Abu Dhabi wants to have a hotel of fairy tales as well. Dubai is reaching high height, the miracle in Abu Dhabi is massively long.

United Arab Emirates II: Dubai - Bastakiya
Published: 2.3.2015
I go on to the district of Bastakiya. This neighborhood preserves the memory of old sea port of Dubai as there are typical Arab houses surrounded with high walls. Hopefully, they will manage to preserve these sights for next generations …

Dubai: Cost Fre Activities for Kids and Their Parents – We Teach You How to Enjoy a Vacation and Don't Get Broke
Published: 26.8.2019
Do you feel that you simply do not have enough means for a trip to Dubai with children? But even staying in the increasingly popular Arab capital does not have to cost you a lot. The secret is to do with your kids mainly things that cost nothing, and yet they are literally priceless. Here are some tips on what places you should definitely include in your travel itinerary.

United Arab Emirates: Abu Dhabi – The Power of Capital
Published: 24.5.2013
A city that faces hot temperatures typical for the Persian Gulf area and desert. Abu Dhabi is a great example of power of vast capital of the United Arab Emirates.


Related Photogallery

UAE – The Land of the Future
If you have ever wanted to see the future, plan a trip to the United Arab Emirates, which are loc...

Place

Czech republic

Partners:

We were awarded the certificate even thanks to you!

Dôveryhodná firma 2017

 

Guide:

Important Information:

Information and warnings on travelling abroad is to be found HERE.

Mobile application:

aplikácia Infoglobe

stiahnuť zadarmo pre Androidstiahnuť zadarmo pre iPhone

 

 

Today:friday 29. 3. 2024
Holiday:Taťána
Today:
friday 29.3.
6 °C
Tomorrow:
saturday 30.3.
11 °C

TIP: INFOGLOBE app is available for your device, download HERE.

X

TIP: INFOGLOBE app is available for your device, download HERE.

X