New and old attractions make for a heady mix in the emirates
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has always had a slightly more than generous helping of sun, sand and sea. And now - as a bit of garnish - style can be added to that tempting holiday offering.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has always had a slightly more than generous helping of sun, sand and sea. And now - as a bit of garnish - style can be added to that tempting holiday offering.
There's no shortage of entertainment on offer for tourists to the UAE, which enjoys an enviable location more or less in the middle of the Middle East, about eight hours by air from Hong Kong.
Added to the UAE's beaches, desert and other natural attractions is a heady cocktail of upmarket shopping, five-star resorts, restaurants that embrace all the world's cuisines, international events, and - of course - a stalwart traditional culture.
Horse racing devotees, tennis fans and golf aficionados are all well catered for in the UAE's sporting calendar, while petrol heads can get their kicks at the annual Formula 1 championship. Concerts and music and art festivals round out the UAE's cultural offerings, which are set to get an enormous boost with the opening of the Louvre Abu Dhabi this year.
Under an arrangement with the Louvre Museum in Paris, France, the Euro108 million (HK886.6 million), 24,000-square-metre museum will be located on the Saadiyat Island Cultural District, and is due to open this autumn. Artwork from around the world will be showcased at the museum, which will place particular emphasis on bridging the gap between Eastern and Western art. The initial exhibition will include works from such artists as Titian, da Vinci, David, Manet, Monet and Van Gogh as well as rarities like the 1,200-year-old glazed terracotta Blue Lady which was made in China. Several other museums are planned for the area, including a branch of the Guggenheim.
Not to be outdone, Abu Dhabi's sister emirate, Dubai, will be inaugurating The Dubai Frame in October. The 150-metre-high, gold-plated, window frame-shaped observatory will be topped off by a 100-metre-wide glass-covered skywalk with a view that encompasses the old and modern parts of the city. The Frame is expected to draw more than two million visitors a year, and - since it is covered in solar panels - is completely eco-friendly.
"With revolutionary technological advancements happening in the renewable energy sector, future buildings in Dubai will produce energy in multiple ways," says Dr Ahmed Elbeshlawy, economic analyst at the UAE's consulate in Hong Kong.
"With green building regulations in place and rooftop solar production soon to begin in Dubai buildings, the city is heading in the right direction towards becoming one of the top 10 most sustainable metropolitan tourist destinations."
Dubai has become more user-friendly in recent years with the opening of the metro rail system. Besides being a swift and efficient way to get around the city, much of the route is elevated, turning any ride into a mini sightseeing trip. And should the outside temperature prove a little warm - it can reach 45 degrees Celsius in summer - there's always the option of dropping by the indoor skiing centre at the Mall of the Emirates.
The UAE's more traditional entertainment - such as embarking on a four-wheel drive safari in the desert - continue to be as popular as ever with visitors, as are other facets of the region's history. In Abu Dhabi, the Heritage Village grants visitors the chance to experience traditional life before oil revenues altered the landscape, economically and socially. Bedouin tents, palm-frond houses, stone houses from the mountains, old fishing villages and traditional souks help to recreate life as it was. Given its location on the Corniche, maritime traditions are a special feature, while a shop sells local crafts.
The oldest building in Abu Dhabi is Qasr al-Hosn, or the White Fort. The original structure dates from 1793 when it was the official residence of Abu Dhabi's rulers from the Bani Yas tribe, the al-Nahyan family. Today, two sections are clearly distinguishable - the ancient fort, dating back to the time of Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon who ruled in the mid 19th century, and a new section added in 1936 by Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan. Major renovations took place in 1983 and now a permanent exhibition at the Qasr al Hosn Centre tells the story of Abu Dhabi and its people through its most iconic building. The centuries-old fort is a telling reminder that not everything in the UAE is brand new and ultramodern.