sandCat in Dubai

Category: events

  • an oily anniversary

    When you think about the Middle East you probably also think about oil, crude oil that is – black gold that gushes out of the ground. People visiting us are often surprised to find out that less than 10% of Dubai’s GDP comes from oil. This is not the case however for Abu Dhabi where oil contributes a lot more to their wealth and economy, and to the UAE overall.

    Today marks the 50th anniversary of the first tanker of crude oil to leave Abu Dhabi and the beginning of the rapid growth and development that has been seen in the Emirate and the UAE alike. Efforts have subsequently been made to diversify into other industries leading to investments in sectors like football and space tourism, all fuelling a modern economy.

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  • fancy a date?

    When you think of the desert you kinda imagine miles and miles of rolling sand dunes, and little else right? But the reality is a little different. Whilst it is dry and dusty there are still plants that manage to eke out an existence on what little moisture they catch from morning dew and days of high humidity. Of course in the oasises (oasi? what is the plural?) there is a lot more water, and thanks to a clever system of irrigation trenches, or falaj, more foliage is concentrated here. And most commonly of all you will find the date palm. In fact you will see these plants (trees?) all over the place here.

    al-ain
    [at the Al Ain Oasis in 2008 (now a World Heritage Site)]


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  • i love my Mom(s)

    Happy Mother’s Day!

    Today, the 8th of May, is Mother’s Day in South Africa and the US. Here in Dubai we had Mother’s Day on the 21st of March, the same day as Bahrain, Lebanon, Egypt, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, Kuwait and Yemen. If you live in Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, India or Pakistan you will have to wait until the 10th of May for your breakfast in bed ladies. Mothering Sunday in the UK falls on the fourth Sunday of Lent, which this year was the 3rd April. In Mauritius it’s the last Sunday of May.

    flowers
    [image credit: Arnaldur Halldorsson at NordicPhotos]


    I was going to start this post by saying I am lucky and grateful to (now) be blessed with three Moms as it were. Number one of course is my actual Mom, the woman who gave birth to me and put up with me firstly as a serious toddler, later a stroppy teenager and then a major party animal in my twenties, and who is still wonderfully supportive and non-judgemental. I love you Ma! Later there was my step Mother, who came along when I was all grown up, and has been a generous and brilliant person to me and a welcome addition to the family. And lastly I gained a mother-in-law, the last Mum on the scene who, despite some initial clash of wills, has become very important to me too.

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  • books, art and Jamie

    Yes I have been a bit scarce I know. We just had a lovely vacation in Switzerland, and I have also been studying for an exam that keeps being postponed (most annoying) and also organising, with my partner, a “Come Wine and Dine with me” evening for my wine club. So really all go, but no excuse. So without further ado a couple of things that caught my interest for the month.

    The third Emirates Airline Festival of Literature opens tonight – in fact the festival is being opened by Michael Palin, British comedian and author, and one of the crazy Monty Python gang (still one of my favourite shows I must say). Unfortunately by the time we realised it was all happening we had lost out (again) as all the workshops we wanted to attend are now fully booked. The festival is made up of 130 events overall including 20 workshops and the opening, and is definitely growing in popularity here in Dubai. If you are lucky enough to be attending one of the workshops please let me know how you get on. The festival runs until Saturday.

    [from www.clker.com]


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  • the sound of thunder

    Today marks the start of the Gulf Bike Expo, or Gulf Bike Week as it’s also called.

    bike-week

    To make sure this is a memorable occasion 1,000 bikes are set to roar down Sheikh Zayed Road tomorrow in what they are calling The Thunder Parade. Parade participants will set off from Festival City at 2pm on the 11th Feb, and will ride as far as Media City (via Business Bay) and back again. Sounds like it may be worth the ear-ache, especially if you are a bike nut (and I have met a few here).

    If that weren’t enough punishment for your auditory canal then you might wish to round of the day with the Amy Winehouse concert.

    More info on the expo available on the website.

    Have a great weekend!