Home

 

News

Overview

Diary

Statistics

In Deutsch

 

MAIL

 

Pictures of our trip 2012/13 to the United Arab Emirates – part 2
- with our vehicle, here in January 2013: Liwa
 
 
Al Ain, Eastcoast & Ras al Khaima - United Arab Emirates with our car in April 2013 - part 3
Sharjah/Dubai/1st Traveler's Festival/Emirates National Auto Museum - UAE with car Nov. 2012 to Jan. 2013 - part 1
Sharjah + Dubai: United Arab Emirates - without our vehicle from February 19th, to 27th, 2011
Fairytale Wedding in Dubai - United Arab Emirates - with our car from February 7th, to May 20th, 1999
Oman 2013 – Part 1 - February 2013: Musandam Peninsula
Oman 2013 – Part 2 - February 2013: Sohar - Muscat - Rustaq - Nizwa
Oman 2013 – Part 3 - March 2013: Sur - East Coast - Island of Masirah - Dhofar
Oman 2013 – Part 4 - March 2013: Salalah & Surroundings (Dhofar) - Nizwa
Oman 2013 – Part 5 - March 2013: Western Hajar Mountains
(Oman 2013 – Part 6) - April 2013: Omani Madha Exclave in the UAE
 
 
U.A.E. Map
 
 
 
       Middle East Map
 
latest picture: January 28, 2013
  • click a picture to see details

 
 
 
 
 
 
173  At the Northern edge of the Rub’ al
Khali Desert is the Liwa Oases. A tarmac
road at Mezaira’a  leads 15 miles across the
magic dune landscape to Moreeb Hill, where
the road ends near up to 1’000 ft. high dunes
174  The dunes are the home of the
camels which roam around freely. They
have a life expectancy of 40 to 50 years
175  Be it South, North, East or West
– the sea of dunes in various shapes
and shades is omnipresent
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
176  In the soft evening light the crests
of the dunes look strikingly sharp
177  Our LandCruiser is exploring
a bit the desert
178  “We also need to have a rest now
and then!“ Camels can travel 350 miles
without drinking (2 weeks without water
at a daily output of at least 25 miles)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
179  Camels nibble at the scattered grass
bushes. They can reach a sustained speed
of 25 miles/hour (short bursts 40 miles)
180  Absolute peace: A desert
camp between the dunes
181  We are driving downhill to the salt-
pans respectively gravel plains. It is a so
called “lake bed”, which is said to have
had water many thousands of years ago
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
182  What a wonderful feeling to roll
through the deserted magic
world of the dunes
183  Sabkhas (salt pans) and crescentic
dunes are the uniqueness of the desert
at the edge of the “Empty Quarter”.
How this is looking from the air –
see picture No. 16 of our journey in
2011 to the Yemeni island of Socotra
184  A camel – here in Arabia they
are one-humped dromedaries – is
approaching curiously our LandCruiser
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
185  Unspoilt, endless and magic: The
fascination of the desert with its play
of  colors. The dunes are shimmering
either in cinnamon, gold or apricot
186  The sun disappears behind the
crest of a dune. Then it can get
pretty chilly in the desert
187  The dunes are shifting constantly
showing always different patterns
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
188  Our LandCruiser in front of the
1’000 ft. high dune at Moreeb Hill –
one of the highest dunes in the world
189  A desert camp at Moreeb Hill
190  Adventure pure: The tracks on
an almost vertical (slope 50 degrees)
dune show that ‘dune bashing” has
reached a new dimension: Quads, bikes
and souped-up 4x4’s try to climb it
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
191  Vegetables are cultivated also in
the desert – here at the Liwa Oases.
Fences from date palms protect the
fields from the dry desert wind
192  Between Hameem and Mezaira’a
we make a lunch break at a village.
There is not one soul around, only
camels are roaming around
193  A beautiful contrast – a date palm
forest (plantation) that borders a sand
dune (between Hameem und Mezaira’a)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
194  A camel farm at the foot of a dune
195  Opposite the camel race ground
at Madinat Zayed on the highway E45
a small camel train begins to move …..
196  ..... and heads straightaway to the
race ground – probably to “exercise”
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
197  The Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al-Nahyan
Mosque is the master piece of Abu Dhabi.
It can accommodate more than 40’000
worshippers in its central court yard and
main prayer hall …..
198  ..... the four minarets (height 351 ft.)
and some of the 82 marble domes that
adorn the roofline contrast beautifully
against the evening sky …..
199  ….. from whatever angle this
newest landmark of Abu Dhabi –
conceived by the late Sheikh Zayed,
the “father” of the UAE –
is always captivating
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
200  When the setting sun illuminates
the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al-Nahyan
Mosque in Abu Dhabi, the arcades
look especially appealing …..
201  ..... the darker the skies, the
more stunning the view. Even the display
of the water fountains is magical …..
202  ..... and the reflection of the pillars
in the pond shows another of its
fascinating sights
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
203  Gold-plated marble pillars divide the
interior of the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al-
Nahyan Moschee in Abu Dhabi. The main
prayer hall is covered with the largest
Persian carpet of the world. It took 2’000
craftsmen two years to complete …..
204  ..... one of the seven gold-plated
crystal chandeliers made of semi precious
stones is dangling from the ceiling. The
largest measures 33 ft. in diameter
and weights almost 9 long tons …..
205  ..... designs have been taken
over from Morocco, Turkey and
even India’s Taj Mahal
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
206  The ‘Capital Gate Tower’ in
Abu Dhabi has its uniqueness: It is
leaning 14 degrees more than the
Tower of Pisa in Italy (‘only’ 4º)
207  Where in the world do you have
a Formula 1 Race Track roaring through
a hotel? The futuristic ‘Yas Viceroy
Hotel’ in Abu Dhabi is offering it!
208  Abu Dhabi’s skyline comes up
with another curiosity: With the disk-
shaped, 23-storied, 361 ft. tall
building of the Aldar headquarter, a
property development company. It’s
the first circular skyscraper of the world
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
209  Through the massive gate, we
get a first glance of the Emirates
Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi, once the
Presidential Palace, now belonging
to the Kempinski hotel group …..
210  ..... the hotel comprises 114 domes,
nearly 400 rooms and suites and the interior
is of its finest: from marble, gold and 1’002
crystal chandeliers. The rate starts at about
US$400 (592 sq.ft.) and climbs up to about
US$11’500 (7’319 sq.ft.) per night .....
211  ….. sitting on a hill, it offers views
over the Etihad Towers (5 towers with
a height between 715 and 1’000 ft.)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
212  Buy gold bars and gold watches to
updated gold prices. The Emirates Palace
Hotel in Abu Dhabi refers to its world’s
first gold vending machine (ATM),
coming from Germany …..
213  ..... it sits in the main hall. Against
payment with the credit card it discharges
the chosen purchase. Soon, the first of
such a gold vending machine will be
placed also in Switzerland (Ticino)
214  Near the Emirates Palace Hotel
in Abu Dhabi the next Presidential
Palace is in construction – more
gigantic than the previous two
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
215  Emil is enjoying his picnic at our
favorite spot in Abu Dhabi: The sandy
beach overlooking the Mussafah bridge
and the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al-
Nahyan Mosque in the background …..
216  ..... on weekends we share
the place with families which
come to fish and relax …..
217  ..... and to enjoy the sunset
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
218  The negative side of the progress:
High voltage power lines take away
much of the desert charm but radiate
finally an own fascination
219  A monster of a gas tank is parked
along the road. It is on its way to the Shah
Gas Main Plant, a joint venture of Adnoc
(Abu Dhabi National Oil Company) and
the American Oxy (Occidental Petroleum)
220  This is THE Arabia we love!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
221  Sand dunes, oases and the backdrop
of the rugged, 300 miles long Hajar
mountains is the scenery we see at
Shwaib at the Oman border
222  In Shwaib we discover tiny
white flowers sprouting out
of the desert sand …..
223  ..... and a few miles further the
lush green of the cultivated vegetable
gardens catch our eyes
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
224  Very convenient in the desert: Fresh
fruits and vegetables sold along the road
225  The French supermarket chain
“Carrefour“ adapts to the tough country
rules: Point three says that “kissing or
display of affection is prohibited”
226  Beautiful setting: The ‘Golden
Tulip Hotel’ in Habhab near
Ras al-Khaimah, the most
northerly Emirate
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
227  Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah: From the
little hill of the ‘Golden Tulip Hotel’ in Ras
al-Khaimah there is a lovely view to the
little desert oasis of Habhab …..
228  ..... with its typically white houses
229  In Ras Al Kaimah, the northerly emirate,
we bid farewell to the UAE – at least for
some weeks. In Tibat we cross the border
to the Omani exclave of Musandam
 
 
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: United Arab Emirates - without our vehicle from February 19th, to 27th, 2011
Sharjah/Dubai/1st Traveler's Festival/Emirates National Auto Museum - UAE with car Nov. 2012 to Jan. 2013 - part 1
Al Ain, Eastcoast & Ras al Khaima - United Arab Emirates with our car in April 2013 - part 3
 
More websites from the Middle East:
Welcome to Kuwait on March 3rd, 1996
Yemen car trip (from Oman to Saudi Arabia) - from May 16th, to June 15th, 1996
Sandstorm in Saudi Arabia on February 4th, 1999
Trip to Dubai in January and February 1999
Oman 1999 - from mid-March to mid-April 1999
Oman 2013 – Part 1 - February 2013: Musandam Peninsula
Oman 2013 – Part 2 - February 2013: Sohar - Muscat - Rustaq - Nizwa
Oman 2013 – Part 3 - March 2013: Sur - East Coast - Island of Masirah - Dhofar
Oman 2013 – Part 4 - March 2013: Salalah & Surroundings (Dhofar) - Nizwa
Oman 2013 – Part 5 - March 2013: Western Hajar Mountains
(Oman 2013 Part 6) - April 2013: Omani Madha Exclave in the UAE
Iran 2013 – Part 1: Ferry Port Bandar Abbas-Shiraz-Persepolis-Pasargad (between Persepolis and Yazd)
Iran 2013 – Part 2: Pasargad (excl.)-Yazd-Esfahan May 2013
Iran 2013 – Part 3: Esfahan (excl.)-Chelgerd-Hamadan-Sanandaj-Orumiyeh May 2013
Turkey 2013 Eastern Anatatolia - June 2013
Socotra - without our car from February 9th, to 19th, 2011:
Part 1: Socotra trip in Yemen (East) Hadibo - Dihamri - Arher Beach
Part 2: Socotra trip in Yemen (South) Homhil - Aomak Beach - Wadi Daerhu - Dicksam Plateau
Part 3: Socotra trip in Yemen (West) Qalansiya - Shouab Beach - Qadama Beach - Momi Plateau - Wadi Ayhaft
Saudi Arabia 2016: Transit from Sudan to the United Arab Emirates
Iran 2016Part 4: Ferry Port Bandar Abbas-Kerman-Mashad-Bajgiran April/May 2016
 
Articles in newspapers etc. about us in the United Arab Emirates:
Website: "Award Traveler's Festival Dubai 2012", Blog "HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum", Dec. 27, 2012
Article: "Human bond knows no borders", Daily Newspaper "Gulf Today" - December 27, 2012
Article: "Still on the road 28 years later, Swiss couple attends Dubai Travellers Festival", Daily Newsp. "GulfNews" - Dec. 27, 2012