U.A.E. Map

 

 

      Middle East Map

latest picture: February 26, 2011

• click a picture to see details

16  On the way from Yemen to the U.A.E.

we fly from Mukallah over the Rub al Khali

desert, the “Empty Quarter” – here over the

so-called Lake Beds, which should have

had water tenthousands of years ago

17  The architectonically extravagant

skyscrapers of Dubai are greeting us.

Here the Sheikh Zayed Road, up to

15 lanes wide, near the Burj Khalifa Tower

18  View from South to North over

Dubai Creek towards the Deira area with

its traditional dhows. Early morning and

evening water taxis, called “abra”, are

busy with commuters

19  The “Burj-al-Arab”, the second tallest

“7-star” hotel of the world (1’053ft.), is not

anymore open for day-tourists and -visitors.

Only people lodging there, have access

20  Jumeirah Beach with its covered

picnic tables attract tourists in droves,

currently many from Russia and the

Eastern states

21  “Burj Khalifa” – the highest

tower in the world (2’717ft.) –

and more skyscrapers tower

ghostly towards a hazy sky

22  We two at the artificial lake called

“Dubai Fountain”, lying besides the

“Burj Khalifa” tower and the largest shopping

mall (as to total area), the “Dubai Mall”

23  The unique, most interesting

and appealing backdrop of the

“Burj Khalifa” is also attractive

for commercials

24  An elderly Arab watches the

by-passers at “Burj Khalifa” –

how his Emirate has changed

since his young days!

25  “Burj Khalifa“ the highest

building in the world, was

inaugurated on October 5th, 2010.

Before, during its nearly seven

years of construction,

it was called “Burj Dubai”

26  “The word impossible is not in the

leaders’ dictionaries. No matter how big

the challenges, strong faith, determination

and resolve will overcome them”.

His Highness, Skeikh Mohammed bin Rashid

Al Maktoum (Ruler of the Emirate of Dubai,

Prime-Minister and Minister of Defense,

as well as Vice-President of the U.A.E.)

This is also our philosophy!

27  In the fastest elevator of

the world (40mph) we let us

catapult to the highest outdoor

observation desk (124th floor/1’483ft.)

From the 124th floor of the „Burj Khalifa“, at an altitude of 1’483ft., we enjoy a sweeping panorama of 360°:

28  Southeastwards: “The Address Down-

town Dubai” Hotel (1’004ft. skyscraper in

front left), “Downtown Dubai” (souk like

building in the water of “Dubai Fountain”)

29  Northwards: “Financial Center”

30  Southwestwards: “Business Bay“

(the most under construction)

31

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33

From the observation desk of the “Burj Khalifa” Liliana is enjoying the views over mosques and skyscrapers in the neighborhood

34

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36

The “Dubai Fountain” at “Burj Khalifa”:

Innumerable outlets perform a fantastic water show to the sound of different compositions. The sprays rise over 420ft. in the air

37  Elegant skyscrapers reflect in the

calm artificial lake of the “Dubai Fountain”

at the “Burj Khalifa”

38  Just another shot of the very

impressing “Burj Khalifa” tower

39  Luxury hotels and residential areas around

“Burj Khalifa”, the brownish building in front

belonging to the “Dubai Downtown” complex

This is how the United Arab Emirates might have looked still a few years ago –

outside of the huge oil centers of Dubai and Abu Dhabi they even today exist

40  A newer mosque at the otherwise still

laid back Emirate of Umm Al Quwain

41  Nostalgic Umm Al Quwain: This

is how probably also Dubai and Sharjah

looked like, before oil was discovered

42  Between the smaller Emirates of Ajman

and Um Al Quwain there is still nature,

where Flamingos feel at home

43  The oriental “Central Gold Souk” in

Sharjah looks fabulous in its illumination .....

44  ..... as well as the adjacent mosque

where it is prayer time …..

45  ..... in the distance the

wonderfully lit Al Noor mosque rises

Between high sky rise buildings are nestling nostalgic looking oriental buildings

46  The Indian Trade

and Exhibition Center .....

47  ..... one of the many

distinctive mosques .....

48  ..... the Sharjah Chamber

of Commerce & Industry

49  In front of the anchoring dhows at

Khor Khalid all kind of goods are piled

up – from tires, sacks of flour, plastic

container, Nutella, Coca Cola to fridges.

Where are they going? To Iran? Pakistan?

50  A moment of relaxation on a

dhow at Sharjah’s harbour

Rolla Port near Port Khalid

51  In the dhow harbor Rolla at

Khor Khalid, opposite of Sharjah’s

Corniche, is a fascinating

disarrangement of goods to be loaded

52  In the Dhow harbor we

encounter interesting faces like

the one of this bearded man

53  Dhow workers are taking a rest

54  Many workers in the Dhow harbor

are from Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka,

Bangladesh, etc..Often they are

recognizable by their clothing

Mosques and golden domes form the city image of Sharjah, the religious capital of the U.A.E.

55  The impressive Al Noor Mosque

along the Corniche .....

56  ..... the golden minarets and cupola

of the Al Corniche mosque .....

57  ..... the golden dome of the

“Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization”

58  The lawn in front of the

“Central Gold Souk” in Sharjah

is a popular place to relax …..

59  ….. another favorite place is watching

the sunset at Al Khan Fort, Southwest

of the Al Meena Street .....

60  ..... we like the sea gulls gathering

on a lawn near the “Petroleum

Council” in the evening

61  Even the cranes lining up in the port

Khalid, the main harbor of Sharjah,

are an impressive sight at sunset

62  The ball of the setting sun

disappears behind a minaret

63  Seagulls are flying into the

sunset to their night places

More websites from the United Arab Emirates:

Fairytale Wedding in Dubai - United Arab Emirates - with our car from February 7th, to May 20th, 1999

Sharjah/Dubai/1st Traveler's Festival/Emirates National Auto Museum - UAE with car Nov. 2012 to Jan. 2013 - part 1

Liwa - United Arab Emirates with our car in February 2013 - part 2

Al Ain, Eastcoast & Ras al Khaima - United Arab Emirates with our car in April 2013 - part 3

 

Before arriving in Sharjah on February 19th, 2011, without car, we visited during 10 days the Island of Soctora in Yemen:

Part 1: Socotra Island trip in Yemen (East) – Hadibo - Dihamri - Arher Beach

Part 2: Socotra Island trip in Yemen (South) – Homhil - Aomak Beach - Wadi Daerhu - Dicksam Plateau

Part 3: Socotra Island trip in Yemen (West) – Qalansiya - Shouab Beach - Qadama Beach - Momi Plateau - Wadi Ayhaft

 

Yemen car trip (from Oman to Saudi Arabia) - with our car from May 16th, to June 15th, 1996

Oman car trip 2013:    Oman – Part 1     Oman – Part 2     Oman – Part 3     Oman – Part 4     Oman – Part 5

Iran car trip 2013:    Iran – Part 1       Iran – Part 2       Iran – Part 3       2016:   Iran – Part 4

Saudi Arabia 2016:    Transit from Sudan to the United Arab Emirates

 

On February 27th, 2011, we flew to Colombo in Sri Lanka:

Continuation of the car trip from March 11th, 2011, in Sri Lanka