UAE and Oman

January 30 - February 8, 2009
Jan 30 AC876 YYZ-FRA,
Jan 31 LH632 FRA-DXB,
Feb 3 LX242 DXB-MCT,
Feb 8 LX243 MCT-DXB, LH631 DXB-FRA AC873 FRA-YYZ

For our first trip to the Middle East we took advantage of the fact that my aunt and uncle are living in Muscat, Oman, to host us.  Thankfully, they were very good hosts and were able to find time during each of our four days there to take us around the country.  As all flights to Muscat lead through the UAE we took advantage of the fact and spent three days in Dubai, before heading on to Muscat.  Although I’m not sure I want to go back, I’m glad that I got to see Dubai in its current state of rapid development.  Tom was brave enough to drive and we took a day trip to Abu Dubai, where one of my former employees is now living.  Overall, the trip was a great experience and despite some apprehension before going, we really enjoyed it and were very impressed by the friendly people of Oman.

Jan 30-Feb 1
Toronto to Dubai for a 6:00am arrival  

Five Pillars of Islam presentation inside Jumeirah Mosque   

Jumeirah Mosque exterior, the first stop on our Big Bus Company tour  

Burj Al Arab hotel (world’s most expensive) taken from the canal at Souq Madinat Jumeirah

After lunch along the canal we head down the spine of the Palm islands towards Atlantis  

Burj Dubai, the tallest free standing structure and building, still under construction  

The sky scrapers lined Sheikh Zayed Road in one of manybuilt up areas

Feb 2
Dubai

The Roman-themed exterior of the Wafi Mall, a few minutes from our hotel

Various cargo offloaded at the dhow boat wharf of Dubai Creek

Looking across Dubai Creek to Burj Dubai and the skyline

Cell towers in Dubai in camouflage

Reflection of the skyscraper along the creek

Crowded abra boat crossing the creek with cargo filled dhow boats in the background

A labourer pulling some recent cargo through the street of Deira (old Dubai)

Dubai Heritage House where we were hosted with free tea and Arabian pancakes

Desert haze Sunset from our hotel room

After picking up the rental car, we head to Mall of the Emirates and see indoor Ski Dubai

From one mall onto Dubai Mall (the world’s largest of course) with unfinished retractable roof

The largest acrylic viewing panel in the Dubai Mall.  No one is shopping, but the fish are cool

Feb 3
Dubai side trip to Abu Dhabi before flying to Muscat Oman that night

The nearly completed Grand Mosque Abu Dhabi, just a little smaller than Mecca

World’s largest carpet and world’s largest chandelier with 1M Swarovski crystals

Abu Dhabi Fort with the more modern skyline in the background  

The exterior of Emirates Palace hotel, unlike Burj Al Arab, open to the public

Poorly engineered sky hill in the Marina Mall, so far not able to open due to icing on windows

My former employee Shu and I outside the mall with the large flag on the breakwater

Feb 4
Muscat, Wadi Al Hoqain, and Rustaq

Wadi Al Hoqain

When we went into the village above the Wadi were greeted by a friendly villager who hosted us

A ruined fort above the village

Rustaq Fort entrance, with the traditional protective small entry door

Walking along the Rustaq Fort wall with my uncle

Muscat Festival (annual month long show case of Omani culture) show shown on live TV

Traditional bag Omani pipes (who knew?)

Feb 5
Muscat to guest house near Wahiba Sands

Unfinished highway heading Southeast from Muscat part of current infrastructure investment

A camel roams freely along the highway

Wadi Shab - one of the most beautiful wadis (valleys) in Oman

The view in the valley after a nice hike

A picnic lunch with my aunt Beatrice and uncle Ernie along the Gulf of Oman

A Bedouin group heads back over the Wahiba Sands desert

Late afternoon on our desert tour

More of the sweeping desert hills with only a few tire tracks

More rolling desert

The view from our jeep as slide down a steep sand mountain, holding on for our life

Feb 6
Wahiba sands back to Muscat

One of many camel crossing signs

Tom and I in front of Nizwa Souq

Jebel mountain on the way back to Muscat

A very busy Friday afternoon along Qurm Beach with numerous football games

Feb 7
Muscat

Grand Mosque exterior

Grand Mosque interior with impressive carpet and chandelier

The Mutrah Corniche along the port

The Sultan’s Royal Yacht  

The Sultan’s Royal Palace

Feb 8
We leave Muscat just after midnight and spend the rest of the day getting home to Toronto