The United Arab Emirates as a country was founded today, 2 December, exactly 50 years ago, when Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Fujairah, Ajman, and Umm-al-Quwain joined forces. Ras-al-Khaimah, the 7th emirate making up… Continue reading
“We do not give up on the places we love just because we are physically detached from them.” – Elif Shafak I pull the throw over my legs, before I cradle a steaming… Continue reading
Nothing stands as a stronger sign of change than when a building or group of buildings are razed to the ground to make space for redevelopment. I’ve driven past Mina Plaza Towers many… Continue reading
“To those who would knowWe are the Bani Yas.This is our island,Where we are born and raised.We are a people of noble origins,We inherited it from the ancestors.Our forefathers guarded it with their… Continue reading
“One of the fascinating things about humans is that, in contrast to stones and to water and to earth and to fields, they seem to be privileged and burdened with the ability to… Continue reading
“To go in search of what once was is to postpone the difficulty of living with what is.” – Barry Lopez My movements are slow and rhythmic, as the paddle dips in and… Continue reading
“Adventures will change you. They’ll saturate you with a fresh view of life. They’ll take every foundation you ever stood on and shake them until they crack. Adventures will tear away layer after… Continue reading
“Arid lanscapes bring on big thoughts. A mental aerate of sorts. Life stripped out to reveal the world’s bones, the ancient geology of rock and sand highlighting the puny nature of our joy,… Continue reading
“Coffee has to go through a series of processes and changes to reveal its true identity. If we pay attention, we can taste decisions on species, variety, processing, milling, roasting and brewing. Every… Continue reading
“Art enables us to find ourselves, and lose ourselves at the same time.” – Thomas Merton – Warehouse 421 Located in Mina Zayed near the Dhow Harbour, Warehouse 421 has been my favourite… Continue reading
“We have come to forget that our minds are shaped by the bodily experiences of being in the world – its spaces, textures, sounds, smells and habits . . .” – Robert Macfarlane… Continue reading
“Any landscape is a condition of the spirit.” – Henri Frederic Amiel – As far as my eyes can see, dunes ripple towards the horizon in a vast ocean of sand. A full… Continue reading
“The drive for change on a physical level in the United Arab Emirates has created a parallel shift socially and culturally. As the landscape began to change, so did the mindsets, the native… Continue reading
“This is the ultimate in decadence.” I grin at my husband, while licking away a 24 carat gold flake from my upper lip. “To be quite honest, I am slightly embarrassed by this.” I confess. He… Continue reading
Now, in the middle of Ramadan, the summer heat, haze, and dust effectively erase the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque from the horizon, where, on a clear day, I can see its four 350… Continue reading
Stepping over the threshold of the Korean Cultural Centre in Abu Dhabi, is like stepping into the warm embrace of familiarity and memory. In an instant it is, once again, 26 December 1999.… Continue reading
“What art offers is space – a certain breathing room for the spirit.” John Updike The bold, bright primary colours swirling into one another on the canvas shimmer with life. Musab Al Rais’… Continue reading
“The principles of true art is not to portray, but to evoke.” Thomas Merton The 18 metre long iron ship outside Warehouse 421 appears ghostly against the darkening sky. The day’s heat stubbornly clings to it,… Continue reading
Our ancestors left us a legacy of traditions which make us proud. Our mission is to preserve, develop and maintain it as an asset of this nation for generations to come. – The… Continue reading
Name: Al Sahel Villa Resort by Anantara Location: Sir Bani Yas Island – United Arab Emirates Description: Al Sahel mimics the best Africa has to offer with its thatched-roofed villas, and décor elements that… Continue reading
