Burj Khalifa in Dubai - Tallest Building in the World

Burj Khalifa in Dubai is the tallest building in the world (at the moment). The building is 828 meters high and has 162 floors.

View of the Burj Khalifa and the statue of a horse (picture taken with Sony Nex-7)

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in the capital of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi.

The entrance to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi and view of the mosque's largest dome.

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque - Abu Dhabi

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi is the largest mosque in the United Arab Emirates. The mosque was built by the late president of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. The Sheikh is buried on the grounds of the mosque.

The mosque is really huge. It can accommodate up to 40.000 people. The main hall has a capacity for 7.000 people. The mosque is open for muslims as well as non- muslim visitors.





The mosque from a distance, showing the many domes and minarets.

Inside the Sheikh Zayed Mosque In Abu Dhabi

Inside the Sheik Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi - adhan (prayer clock). There are ten of these clocks in the building. They show the muslim prayer times.

The Emirates has the Largest Airbus A380 Fleet

Did you know that the Emirates is the airline with the largest number of Airbus A380 aircraft in the fleet?

At the moment, the Emirates has a total of 21 A380 aircraft. With an order for 90 Airbus A380's, the Emirates is the largest customer of Airbus.

Emirates A380 flights

Blue Souk in Sharjah

The Blue Souk (souk is the Arabic word for market) in the center of Sharjah has plenty of silver and gold shops. The interior of the Blue Souk is not so fancy as the glittery shopping malls in Dubai but prices are also much lower. For some reason, certain jewelry stores have been named after countries. I was surprised to find even a jewelry shop named after Bulgaria, the country where I was born. The shop is Indian owned though, I think.

Emirates Flights Dubai - Amsterdam with A380

The Emirates is upgrading the service to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. Starting on 1 August 2012, the Emirates flights from Dubai to Amsterdam will be operated with an Airbus A380.

Etihad Airways Sales Jump

Etihad Airways

While most European and US airlines are struggling, Abu Dhabi- based Etihad Airways is doing pretty well. The airline saw sales jump by 28 precent to USD 989 million in the first three months of 2012. Reassured by the positive results, Etihad Airways goes ahead with the global expansion strategy.

Abu Dhabi Big Bus Tours

Abu Dhabi is not exactly built for walking. You can certainly walk in certain areas, like Corniche Road for example, but the distances are just too big for walking. To explore the city, you might need to take a taxi or rent a car. An alternative way to see the major places of interest in Abu Dhabi is to take a Big Bus tour.

See all of Abu Dhabi's landmarks

Marina Mall in Abu Dhabi

The Marina Mall and the Tower.

The Marina Mall is the biggest shopping mall in Abu Dhabi. It is also one the most visited places in the city.

Bus Trip from Dubai to Abu Dhabi

Bus trip from Dubai to Abu Dhabi on RTA. Sorry about the dirty window!

During my stay in Dubai, I decided to make a bus trip to Abu Dhabi. The distance from Dubai to Abu Dhabi is about 160 km and a ride on the bus shouldn't take more than two hours.


There is a very good bus service available between Dubai and Abu Dhabi. You can take either the Emirates Express or one of the buses operated by RTA (Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority). The buses depart every 30 minutes or sooner, if the bus gets filled with passengers.

Dubai Pictures - The Old Bastakiya District

Some more pictures from the old Bastakiya district in Dubai.


A local TV crew was shooting an item while I was strolling in Bastakiya. That's how I managed to take a picture of a guy pulling a traditional cart.

Dubai Creek

Highrise buildings on the Deira side of Dubai Creek.

Dubai Creek is a saltwater creek in Dubai. It divides the city into two main sections - Deira and Bur Dubai.


It was along the Dubai creek area where the Bani Yas tribe first settled in the early 19th century. This tribe established the Al Maktoum dynasty which rules Dubai to the present day.

The Dubai Skyline

The Dubai skyline, as seen from my hotel Rydges Plaza.

I think Dubai has one of the most impressive skylines in the world.