Abu Dhabi, UAE

Welcome to the Middle East!

People are friendly, food is good. And yes, there is beer. UAE is not only the most modern country in the Middle East, but most likely the most liberal. They are working hard to expand international commerce, finance, and tourism, and so its very different from what we are shown on US TV packaged under “Muslim”. People here are friendly, they drive crazy, they stay up late and go to malls. Note that 86% of the population are expats (not from UAE). They drive like shit too. Nia hit the ground running. After a 18 hour flight and 2 days to get our bearings, she started working. She will have to tell you more about that. She is kicking camel butt.

Quick facts (Google) Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, sits off the mainland on an island in the Arabian (Persian)* Gulf. Its focus on oil exports and commerce is reflected by the skyline’s modern towers and shopping megacenters such as Abu Dhabi and Marina malls. Beneath white-marble domes, the vast Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque features an immense Persian carpet, crystal chandeliers and capacity for 41,000 worshipers. *Persian – relates to Iran, not BB’s with UAE, so UAE prefers to call it the Arabian Gulf.