In my dwelling base neighborhood, I’ve by no means met an Emirati. I knew little about Muslim tradition and the Center East outdoors of the struggle and controversy portrayed by the media. On condition that media portraits of Islam are usually not all the time cohesive, I assumed I’d share a bit of bit about one in all my new favourite cities on the earth: Abu Dhabi.
1. Abu Dhabi is the capital of the UAE (United Arab Emirates), a rustic solely forty-three years younger.
As I drove previous palm bushes and palaces, it was unbelievable to fathom that fifty years in the past, thesee roads have been all dry desert — nothing however tents and camels. It was the chief of the Abu Dhabi area who united the seven arab nations, forming the UAE and implementing all infrastructure. President Sheikh Khalifa reworked a desert financial system stimulated by agriculture into a world hub for vogue, quick automobiles, and fabulous individuals.
As Abu Dhabi stays true to its heritage, you e book a desert safari tour full with a sand dunes expertise, dinner, stomach dancing, a camel farm, and sand boarding (it’s like snow boarding, however on sand). I booked with Hala Excursions, accomplice with Etihad Airways … and this occurred:
Yep, that’s me! Take a look at extra of my pictures on Instagram and Fb.
Sure, the Austrian household I met seems to be just like the face of an advert. They have been very candy and just about adopted me for a half a day.
2. Abu Dhabi has a aggressive aptitude in structure and design and holds a sequence of world data together with:
Largest mosque dome, largest carpet, largest mosaic, and till 2012, the most important chandelier on the earth on the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.
The primary Gold ATM at the costliest resort on the earth: Emirates Palace (till 2011).
However sure, it dispenses gold, and you should buy a cameluccino with gold specs.
The primary flying residence: “The Residence by Etihad” is a premium 3-bedroom luxurious cabin full with a butler on a Boeing A380. Etihad Airways is a 5 time winner of the ‘World’s Main Airline’ on the World Journey Awards, and is the nationwide airline of the UAE.
Most leaning constructing on the earth: Capital Gate Constructing at 18 levels.
Highest bridge on Earth: Abu Dhabi’s Gate Towers.
The quickest roller-coaster throughout the largest theme park on Earth: The Method Rossa at Ferrari World
3. Utopia? No poverty, no homeless, no issues with well being care or unemployment.
Given very strict legal guidelines and tradition, you’ll by no means get cat-called strolling in Abu Dhabi. The streets are cleaner than authoritarian Singapore. I felt extremely protected all through my keep.
4. Abu Dhabi is a various, worldwide epicenter with an expat to Emirati ratio of 9 to 1.
Completely happy persons are friendlier individuals, and I felt comfortable with everybody I met all through my keep. Folks come from all around the world to Abu Dhabi not simply to go to, however to remain. My tour guides have been from Belgium and India, the resort ambassador from Bucharest, my driver from the Philippines, and fellow vacationers have been from Austria. Solely 16.5% of residence are Emiratis, that means that over 80% of residence are worldwide expats.
5. It’s a tax-free zone attracting enterprise vacationers from world wide ideally suited for purchasing and excellent for stop-overs.
Geographically positioned between Europe and Asia, Abu Dhabi has turn into a scorching spot for worldwide enterprise. Aside from the CIF (Value, Insurance coverage, and Freight) and an obligation charge decrease than these of most international locations, the UAE doesn’t impose a gross sales tax, customized charges, or different taxes. That is extraordinarily engaging to people and international companies. The scarcity of taxes additionally deems Abu Dhabi (and Dubai) prime for luxurious purchasing.
” The UAE is america’ single largest export market within the Center East, with greater than $22 billion in exports in 2012 – the fourth straight yr the UAE has held this distinction.” UAE Embassy- U.S. Relations
Moreover, Abu Dhabi is the right stop-over location. I used to be touring from Los Angeles to Bangkok and was capable of to see a lot of Abu Dhabi in just some days! It additionally conveniently presents U.S. Customs on the Abu Dhabi airport so you’ll be able to skip the road at LAX (or your respective U.S. airport) after your sixteen hour flight. If you’re on a brief journey, I counsel touring enterprise class to get full meals and a mattress to sleep in all through your flight. In any other case, save with an financial system ticket and make investments it in an Abu Dhabi stopover to see essentially the most fascinating metropolis on the earth for 2 to 5 days.
Beware: you simply may not go away. In spite of everything, it’s an expat epicenter.
TOLERANCE: Afterthoughts on Islam and Abu Dhabi politics and tradition.
I don’t usually embrace commentary on the non secular or political sociology of the locations I go to. You’d suppose I used to be foolish if I threw in crime charges talking of Los Angeles and New York or talked about how the U.S. has managed to start out a number of wars. Nevertheless, Arabic tradition has confronted extreme media backlash, significantly in relation to Islamic extremists. Mockingly, the UAE is just not solely a powerful U.S. ally in international free commerce and funding, but in addition within the struggle towards terrorism which incorporates “combating extremist actions similar to Al Qaeda, Hezbollah, Taliban and Al Shebaab.” UAE Embassy- U.S. Relations
Whereas the UAE has managed to implement infrastructure and an financial system in lower than fifty years, altering conventional tribal mindsets isn’t going to occur over night time. The UAE does have legal guidelines the make girls unequal, and Islam, the official faith of the nation, closely influences their governance. I’m not making excuses for anybody, however it’s my hopes that via journey and real-life human interplay, that we are able to slowly re-shape people’ views of overseas cultures.
Keep in mind, it’s criminals – whether or not people or teams – not international locations or religions that commit crimes and acts of terror. Simply as it’s people and teams that create peace.
Many because of my pals at CheapOair for suggesting my Abu Dhabi journey. You actually know tips on how to maximize an expertise in a really quick time period! I flew with the nationwide airline of the UAE: Etihad Airways, and stayed on the Emirates Palace (photograph journals coming quickly).
For extra details about planning your journey to Abu Dhabi, seek the advice of straight with Abu Dhabi Tourism, North America. www.visitabudabi.ae
The 7 Stars Emirate Palace Resort, Abu Dhabi, UAE (Photographs)
My Prime 25 World Journey Experiences at 25 (Photographs)