Old albums (digital photos)

UAE 01

This is probably the most well known and most photographed building in the UAE - the Burj Al Arab hotel at the far end of Jumeira Beach in Dubai. It is a luxury hotel built in the shape of an Arabian dhow sail. Rates start at US$600 a night for a 170 sq m one-bedroom suite, going up to US$3,000 a night for a 670 sq m two-bedroom suite. Way beyond my budget!

UAE 02

Dubai promotes itself as a 'millionaire's playground' with its palm-fringed sandy beaches, luxurious resorts, exclusive shopping and upmarket nightclubs. This is Jumeirah Beach, with the skyscrapers along Sheikh Zayed Road in the background.

UAE 03

Just behind Jumeirah Beach is the picturesque Jumeirah Mosque. This is actually the view you get when sitting at Starbucks on Jumeirah Beach Road - a pleasant outlook to accompany your morning coffee.

UAE 04

A few blocks back from Jumeirah Beach is the commercial district along Sheikh Zayed Road where the futuristic architecture of some of the modern buildings is quite breathtaking.

UAE 05

The two triangular towers of the Emirates Towers is one of the most impressive buildings along Sheikh Zayed Road. The building houses an upmarket shopping centre, five-star hotel and offices . . . and another Starbucks!

UAE 06

The shopping centre in the Emirates Towers has lots of expensive designer stores (which is probably why it is never crowded) and is spotlessly clean - as are most of the shopping centres in the UAE.

UAE 07

The green and gold glass facade of this building further along Sheikh Zayed Road is very striking.

UAE 08

The angles of this building on Dubai Creek are so sharp that from the side it looks like there is nothing behind the glass.

UAE 09

My first visit to Abu Dhabi was in December 2003. I had been to Dubai many times before that, and people had told me that Abu Dhabi was very quiet and more 'Islamic' than Dubai. So imagine my surprise on arrival at Abu Dhabi airport at 10pm one night to be greeted by a contingent of sexy Filipina girls singing Christmas songs. Not what I expected in Abu Dhabi at all.

UAE 10

Abu Dhabi has many new buildings, like Dubai, but what I found interesting was that so many of them were topped with what looked like giant golf balls. I never did find out the reason for that.

UAE 11

Another building with a golf ball on top.

UAE 12

And another.

UAE 13

There are very few old buildings in Abu Dhabi, but this old mosque made an interesting contrast to the new buildings in the background. Dare I mention the golf ball again!

UAE 14

The President of the UAE, Zayid bin Sultan Al Nuhayyan, seems to be a popular guy in Abu Dhabi given the number of buildings carrying his portrait - often in the shape of a love heart. His presence is more noticeable in Abu Dhabi - probably because he is also the ruler of the Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) emirate, one of the seven emirates making up the UAE.

UAE 15

President Zayid bin Sultan Al Nuhayyan's portrait also adorns many of the street lights around Abu Dhabi city. He has been President of the UAE since 1971 and ruler of the Abu Zaby emirate since 1966. Despite his enormous wealth and powerful position in the Gulf region, it struck me that he doesn't look a very happy man from his portraits. If I had his money I'd be smiling all the time!

UAE 16

Whilst Dubai has a long beachfront with many international resorts, in 2003 Abu Dhabi had no beach at all because the whole of the city's beachfront (more than 2km long) was being redeveloped. This massive construction site completely fenced off the beach from the city. It will be interesting to see what it looks like when the redevelopment is completed. My guess is it will be impressive.

UAE 17

I spotted this sign in one of Abu Dhabi's city parks. I was not sure whether it meant that unaccompanied dogs were okay to roam the park, or whether the English translator had got it wrong and had actually meant to say 'unaccompanied dogs'.

UAE 18

When I saw this advertising billboard over a pharmacy in Abu Dhabi, I occured to me that even without an English translation, it would be obvious where this cream was meant to be applied!