Visions of Arabia

By: Terri and Martin Hirsch Dubai, one of the seven United Arab Emirates , is located in the southwestern portion of the Arabian Gulf . It has a heritage of many cultural riches left by past civilizations. In the 18th century, Dubai was a small fishing and trading village. Today, Dubai City is one of the most intriguing ultra-modern metropolises of the 21st century. It has an artistic, archaeological and cultural heritage. It also offers one of the most delightful shopping experiences. Burjuman Center hosts the world’s largest collection of luxury shopping and brand names under one roof. From the Center we started our walking tour to the Dubai Museum through streets of merchants, business building and one construction site after another. The Al Fahidi Fort, built about 1787, houses the Dubai Museum . It has served as a palace, a garrison and a prison. In 1970 it became a museum. The rooms of the museum contain a collection of artifacts that depict the social, economic and professional life of Dubai before oil was discovered that changed the City dramatically. A short film showed the change and growth of Dubai over the past 100 years. We stepped back in time as we strolled through the narrow corridors of the Dubai Museum where recreated scenes of traditional Arabian houses, clothing and weapons were on display. Archaeological objects such as pottery, stone engravings and skeletons discovered during digs in Dubai were also on display. After our museum tour we continued walking toward the tallest buildings in the area, including the Clock Tower and the World Trade Center , one of the city’s leading landmarks. Our Desert Safari Tour started with a roller-coaster ride across the treacherous dunes in a powerful 4×4 vehicle driven by a highly experience desert safari driver. The tires of the vehicle were deflated before starting our climb. While we were holding onto our seatbelts as the vehicle climbed a tall mountain of sand, the driver suddenly accelerated at the top of the mountain and took a sharp dive down the dune cliff. It was literally breathtaking as he climbed up and down the sand mountains until we reached the Bedouin Campsite in the heart of the desert. The Bedouin are the tribal people of the Arabian Peninsula . Upon arrival at the Campsite we were refreshed with Arabic coffee and tea, accompanied by delicious dates and nuts. Afterward, we relaxed in a tent with carpet and pillows while waiting for a sumptuous BBQ dinner to be served. During this time, camel riding was available and the women were able to decorate their hands or feet with a henna design. Before the night was concluded, a belly dancer performed an enticing show to the rhythm of Arabic music. Later, finding our vehicle and driver in the dark was a formidable task. When we did, he had already inflated the tires to go back on the road for a short trip to the City. Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates , is situated on a small peninsula surrounded by a cluster of islands. Over forty years ago, Abu Dhabi was a small fishing and pearling village. Our tour offered us an introduction to the city, its modern skyscrapers, local history and culture. We started at the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation, a modern building in Islamic style with arching white colonnades, courtyards and gardens. It is considered to be the cultural heart of the city and houses a library, theatre and a lecture hall. A short walk took us to the Fort Palace , the prior royal palace and seat of the government for over 170 years. We continued our tour to the northeastern section of Abu Dhabi to the Dhow Wharf . Here the dhow ships were being built. The people of Emirates have always been dependent upon the sea and at this wharf we saw craftsmen building sea-worthy vessels with simple tools such as a saw and hammer. It was amazing to watch them work and see how each vessel was being prepared for the sea. On our way to the Heritage Village we passed the Presidential Palace. Near the harbor in Abu Dhabi we entered the Heritage Village . It featured Bedouin tents, souqs (markets) with local crafts, and a small museum which illustrated the daily activities of the Arab community prior to the discovery of oil. This museum was visited not only by us but school children from the Emirates area. The drive back took us through the city of Abu Dhabi with its ultramodern glass skyscrapers, white mosques and elegant high-rise buildings. Fujairah, which is situated on the shores of the Gulf of Oman , was our next stop. It is the second smallest Emirate. It is the only Emirate of the United Arab Republic that is almost totally mountainous. This tour started with a visit to the Fujairah Museum . The museum displays the traditional way of life and archaeological artifacts found in excavations throughout the Emirates. Some of the items included Bronze and Iron Age weapons, finely painted pottery, carved soapstone vessels and a large collection of pre-Islamic silver coins. After a photo stop at the recently restored Fujairah Fort, our tour continued to the Fujairah Heritage Village . Here we saw the past and discovered the lifestyles of the ancient residents. Exhibits included traditional houses, cooking utensils and farming tools, as well as an irrigation system. A summer house included a wind tower made of burlap. This wind tower was an effective means to get breezes of air blowing in all directions to cool the house. One of our stops was the Fujairah fish, fruit and vegetable market. A walk through the fish market showed how fish are prepared and sold through traditional bargaining. The fruit and vegetables were all fresh and ready to sell at nominal prices. North of Fujairah was the Al Bidiya Mosque, known as the “Ottoman Mosque”. It is the oldest functioning place of worship in the United Arab Republic . The mosque consists of four small domes held up by a massive central pillar. We climbed the hill to see the two small watchtowers and viewed the Al Bidiya Village with its farmland and mountains in the background. On the way back to the City we had a surprise: Bullfighting is a major attraction in Fujairah . There, it is not man against beast, but a contest of strength between two bulls. The bulls lock horn and wrestle until the weaker one gives up and turns away. Numerous bulls fought before there was one winner. This was a unique way to end our tour of the Emirates.