Abu Dhabi Daily Photograph - Get the BIGGER picture

National Treasure

2011-12-20T21:30:00.001+04:00

Another example of the lengths Emiratis go to in decorating their cars for National Day. This one depicts the late Sheikh Zayed (as do most) and covers the entire rear window of the 4x4

Spirit of the Union

2011-12-18T22:52:00.002+04:00

Emiratis celebrated 40th UAE National Day in style by decorating their cars in an array of elaborate designs. The striking 'Spirit of the Union' logo highlights the historic meeting on 2nd December 1971 of the late Sheikh Zayed with the rulers of the 6 other emirates, proudly marking the establishment of the United Arab Emirates.

Life begins at 40

2011-12-02T06:42:00.006+04:00

Pretty in Pink

2011-11-28T21:15:00.006+04:00

I've no idea of it's name but it sure is pretty. Perhaps any botanists out there can leave a comment and let me/us know.

The Long And Tall Of It

2011-11-26T23:01:00.011+04:00

"Life moves
in the desert
and life
casts a shadow"
by RainbowSlider

Photo taken somewhere between Abu Dhabi and Al Ain.

Magic Mountain

2011-11-23T18:08:00.009+04:00

Now that's what I call a hairpin! According to Wikipedia, the Jebel Hafeet Mountain Road extends for 7.3 mi (11.7 km) up the mountain, rising 4,000 ft (1,219 m). With 21 corners and three lanes (two climbing and one descending), the immaculate road was called the greatest driving road in the world by Edmunds.com. The road scales the mountain and ends at a parking lot with only a hotel and a palace belonging to the country's rulers.

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

2011-11-19T20:57:00.001+04:00

With the Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix over for another year, the Yas Island circuit has to find innovative ways to occupy itself for next 364 days. This includes hiring out this SuperSport SST track car with open-top, 1340cc, 4-cylinders, 420 bhp, and a top speed 233 kph - Phew!

Festival of Sacrifice

2011-11-14T21:35:00.003+04:00

A couple of goats being fattened up for the recent Eid al-Adha holiday on the only grass patch in Al Ain for miles.

According to Wikipedia, this important religious holiday is to commemorate the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son Ishmael as an act of obedience to God, before God intervened to provide him with a sheep to sacrifice instead. This tradition accounts for more than 100 million slaughtering of animals in only 2 days of Eid - Yikes!

Mural of the Month!

2011-11-08T22:52:00.001+04:00

Goes to the Hilton Abu Dhabi for this wonderful mosque fresco, situated in the main lobby of the hotel. My photo doesn't do justice to the size of it, which fills an entire wall from floor to ceiling.

Arc de Triomphe Abu Dhabi

2011-11-04T20:14:00.004+04:00

Another photo from the Emirates Palace Hotel, this time looking towards the Arc de Triomphe style VVIP entrance.

Abu Dhabi Daily Photo Celebrates 3rd Birthday

2011-11-02T11:02:00.000+04:00

Our 3rd birthday is just the first day of another 365-day journey around Abu Dhabi. Enjoy the trip.

The Palace of Pizazz

2011-10-29T22:25:00.002+04:00

From one exuberant hotel to another. This time it's the self-proclaimed seven-star Emirates Palace Hotel - the second most expensive ever built (in the whole World). I've brought you here before but not after dark. To give you an idea of the room rate, the 3 Bedroom Palace Suite is just $(USD)12,255.63 a night! Would you blow all that on one night?

Blue (Da Ba Dee)

2011-10-25T22:08:00.001+04:00

The blue theme at Fairmont Hotel Bab Al Bahr extends throughout the lobby and down the stairs to the award winning Frankie’s Italian Restaurant & Bar, voted Best Italian Restaurant for 2010 What’s On Awards, and Best Italian Restaurant for 2010 TimeOut Abu Dhabi. Hearing that makes me so hungry!

The 88

2011-10-23T21:20:00.002+04:00

The electric blue self-playing piano in the lobby at the Fairmont Hotel Bab Al Bahr is unquestionably an eye-catcher.

Abu Dhabi Film Festival 2011

2011-10-20T19:56:00.006+04:00

Under the patronage of H.E. Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi is currently enjoying a 10-day Film Festival (ADFF), organised by Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH). Now in its 5th year, it's is one of the best organised events in the UAE with over 170 films on offer including competitions for narrative, documentary, and short films. One of the new venues for this year is here, at the Fairmont Hotel Bab Al Bahr offering outdoor screenings by the water - Superb!

Dating in Abu Dhabi

2011-10-17T18:45:00.003+04:00

It's pretty much the end of the dating season here in Abu Dhabi, although if you are lucky enough you can still find the odd full date palm like this one. Btw - Did you know that the date palm is the world's oldest food producing plant? No, neither did I!

On yer bike!

2011-10-14T23:15:00.001+04:00

The cycle path and running path located along the seafront stretches for miles and miles. The weather's still a bit too hot to use during the day but a night it's like the Tour de France.

Steve Jobs 1955-2011

2011-10-11T19:35:00.004+04:00

Although Steve Jobs didn't design the $10,000 retro-futuristic Sonic Chair, it does come complete with a touchscreen 20" iMac and seems the perfect UAE tribute to the great visionary.

Wakey! Wakey!

2011-10-09T22:40:00.002+04:00

Yes, after a 3 month hiatus the Abu Dhabi Daily Photographer is back with his external flash in one hand and his telephoto lens in the other, bringing you an assortment box of images from one of the smallest, richest and best capital cities in the World.

Closed for the Summer

2011-07-05T19:36:00.003+04:00

It's that time of year when three-quarters of Abu Dhabi expats depart the city in search of cooler weather - me included. Hope to see you in September.

Strange Sines

2011-06-27T19:05:00.001+04:00

This 'Rood Works' sign was quickly removed and replaced once people (like me) were spotted taking photos of it.

Bodacious Tatas

2011-06-22T23:10:00.002+04:00

Abu Dhabi has just made it into the Guinness World Records for having the biggest speedhumps on the planet.

In The Round

2011-06-19T18:15:00.002+04:00

A fisheye of the Corniche walkway which stretches for miles, from the breakwater near Marina Mall to the Mina Zayed Port.

She sights a Bird

2011-06-15T00:20:00.003+04:00

She sights a Bird - she chuckles
She flattens - then she crawls
She runs without the look of feet
Her eyes increase to Balls
Her Jaws stir - twitching - hungry
Her Teeth can hardly stand
She leaps, but Robin leaped the first
Ah, Pussy, of the Sand,
The Hopes so juicy ripening
You almost bathed your Tongue
When Bliss disclosed a hundred Toes
And fled with every one

Poem by Emily Dickinson (1862)
Photo at Air Arabia Offices, Khalid Bin Waleed Street, Abu Dhabi (2011)

Sun in the Sands

2011-06-12T18:30:00.002+04:00

I speak of Desert without repose
Carved by relentless winds
Torn up from its bowels
Blinded by sands
Unsheltered solitary
Yellow as death
Wrinkled like parchment
Face turned to the sun.

"Landscapes" by Lebanese poet Andrée Chedid 1978
Photo taken in Al Ain 2011 by Moi