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Masdar – The City of the Future?
Masdar was created by the Emir of Abu Dhabi, who commissioned the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Boston to research renewable energy sources. As a result, the concept of a self-sustaining, zero-CO2 city powered entirely by renewable energy emerged. To test this idea in practice, an area approximately 17 km southeast of Abu Dhabi (near Abu Dhabi International Airport) was selected. The project began in 2006, with an estimated cost of $22 billion and an expected completion date of 2016. However, due to the economic crisis, the final completion date was pushed to 2040. In Arabic, “Masdar” means “source” and refers to the technological innovations to be implemented in…
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Dubai – MegaStructures
Dubai had been on my mind for quite some time. I still remember watching an episode of “Mega Structures” about 10 years ago, fascinated by the extreme project of building this city. Today, when observing this ultra-modern metropolis, it’s hard to believe that not so long ago, Dubai’s land was a desert inhabited by nomadic Bedouin tribes. The city’s rapid development followed the discovery of oil deposits in the 1960s. Dubai’s futuristic vision slowly started to materialise. The skyscrapers reaching the clouds like Burj Khalifa leave an incredible impression. However, the scale of this project becomes even more astonishing when you consider the challenging conditions in which the city was…
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Freefall, skydiving in Dubai – How I Went Bananas
Freefall in Dubai had long been on my bucket list. I’ve always felt most comfortable in wide, open space where I could take in vast landscapes from above. Perhaps this stems from my childhood which I spent on hiking in the mountains. Being a tiny dot in a vast area gives me a deep sense of inner peace. That’s why, at some point, it occurred to me, why not remove one more element from this equation—completely detach myself from the ground under my feet, and jump out of a plane with a parachute? For a long time, I was pushing this idea to the back of my mind. The thought…
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Camel Racing – United Arab Emirates
Camel racing was an event I absolutely wanted to see during my trip to the United Arab Emirates. I must admit that until recently, this wasn’t an attraction I associated with the country. After all, I think most people view the UAE primarily through the lens of modern cities like Dubai or Abu Dhabi. However, camels are an integral part of the region’s culture. What’s more, I must confess that when heading to this event near Ras Al Khaimah airport, I didn’t do my homework properly. I assumed the race would take place on a traditional track surrounded by grandstands. It turned out that camel racing operates by its own…
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Ras Al-Khaimah – United Arab Emirates alternatively
Ras Al Khaimah is one of the seven emirates that make up the UAE. While often overlooked by tourists, in my opinion, it’s one of the most fascinating regions in the UAE. Above all, it’s incredibly diverse. Within a relatively small area, you can find mountains, valleys (wadi), desert landscapes, and the turquoise waters of the Persian Gulf. One of the most spectacular spots is the road leading to the summit of Jebel Jais, located in the Al Hajar Mountains, which rises to 1,925 meters above sea level. Although the peak itself belongs to Oman, the road on the UAE side reaches an altitude of 1,910 meters, just 15 meters…
