Abu Dhabi photo journal

Abu Dhabi is an incredible city. I have rarely seen such obvious wealth, such dramatic modernity, and in such a peaceful (and hot) setting. The city felt calm and comfortable, yet full of brand new hotels and skyscrapers. A fully modern city, to look like any other in the West. And yet, the photo above was only taken 50 years ago. That photo is Abu Dhabi 50 years ago. All of it.

I marvel at the change that people in China have gone through within a few generations. The same is true in the United Arab Emirates. The Emirati discovered oil near Abu Dhabi in the 1960s, and life changed dramatically.

But these Emirati women, nationals who only make up 10% of the residents of Abu Dhabi, must have clear memories of life before the oil. They gather to keep their handicrafts alive, wearing their traditional clothes and speaking their language. And snuggling cute little white babies like ours.

The Emirati people do not pay taxes. Rather, they receive a check every month for their portion of the oil revenues. And the government still has the funds to create something like the Emirates Palace, said to be the world's only 7-star hotel.



Another grand display of wealth is the recently completed Sheikh Zayed Mosque, or the Grand Mosque.



The mosque houses the world's largest Persian carpet, the world's largest chandelier (below), and a capacity for 40,000 worshipers. That number does not include the number who will kneel on their prayer mats in the parking lot during Eid.





The beauty is astounding. Marble and gold make up the obvious portions of the facade, and the walkways, walls and pillars of the interior display beautiful flowering vines of inlaid precious stones.


All guests are asked to dress appropriately, and offered the appropriate dress to wear. I wore a full burka covering my head and clothes, much like the women above. The girls only needed to cover their heads.



While we found the city pleasant, the food delicious, and the mosque beautiful, everyone's favorite part was our journey out to the desert. I will spare you all of my photos, although it was truly beautiful. But the photos can tell the rest of the story.