DUBAI MALL SLIDESHOW

DUBAI MALL

I took my first look at the new Dubai Mall today. Tim had been shortly after it had opened and had been impressed. I wasn't really expecting too much, but did want to have a look at the recently opened bookstore as friends had said it was huge.

Well...the mall is amazing!

Although almost half of the shops haven't opened yet (they need better Retail Design Management team I think!) there were still many stores opened, that I hadn't seen elsewhere. The space is huge without feeling cold or impersonal - contemporary but comfortable too. By far my favourite Mall so far - its a shame it isn't closer.

The ice-skating rink and aquarium are impressive features but the best, best, best part for me was the bookshop - Kinokuniya. It is just so big and filled with amazing books. I can find just one fault - the cafe is not open yet.

I am hoping that Lilli wants to take up skating again. I can take her to her lesson, do the grocery shopping in Waitrose and then we can go and mull over books for an hour or two. Yes, amazingly Lilli will spend just as much time in a bookstore as we can - it's in her genes.

http://www.thedubaimall.com/en

HOME SLIDESHOW

OUR HOME AT THE DUSIT

A slide show of our new home.

It is smaller than our place in Bahrain, but twice the cost even after discount! We were offered a discount as the residence is brand new and not yet completed. There have been quite a few teething problems, but the staff there are lovely and work hard to make it a warm and inviting environment.

It is a pleasant apartment but the views make it really special. We overlook the Dubai Marina so have water and boat views during the day and lovely twinkly lights at night.

*Having trouble embedding the slide show so will try it in another post by itself*

Celebrating UAE National Day at Home (Dusit)

UAE NATIONAL DAY

We are on holiday today, celebrating the UAE's National Day. Tim will have the day off, but the school will be on holiday for almost two weeks. The National Day holiday for the children is to be combined with the Eid holidays.

We celebrated the day yesterday at school - photos to come. Here is a brief history of the UAE for you.

The National Day of the UAE is celebrated on 2nd December every year.

UAE

The United Arab Emirates is a federation of 7 emirates, namely, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain, Sharjah, Fujairah and Ajman. From a desert land of yore, the UAE has emerged as a glittering metropolitan with the spirit of globalization permeating its very veins.

Let’s taste a slice of history

The UAE was formed in the year 1971 under the leadership of Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan. In the beginning the UAE was a federation of six emirates to which the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah was added a year later. The national assembly has representatives from each one of the emirates while the Ruler of each emirate has to vote in the Supreme Council of Rulers.

http://emiratesupdate.wordpress.com/2007/11/12/significance-of-the-uae-national-day/