UAE – Dubai

2016, Autumn

Recently, on the eve of my eight years as a resident of Dubai, I have been contemplating this hot and dusty place I call home. How, even during these few years, a city can expand so rapidly without leaving behind its people, is like a modern urban fairy tale. Everywhere I visit I see fetes of human creativity manifest in front of our very eyes; great architectural and engineering progress not seen any place else on earth. Natural beauty Dubai is short of, this is true. Yet people flock here not to marvel at nature; we come because right now, on Earth, it is the place to be. Like Singapore and Hong Kong before it, Dubai is having its moment in this decade, and I could not wish to be any place else.

Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al-Maktoum ruled Dubai during the critical period of its history. During his lifetime he coaxed his Emirate from desert obscurity to the position it now holds on the world stage. The Dubai I shoot is a city that far outclasses any other Middle Eastern city as a place to live, enjoy, work, make friends, do business and be enthralled by.

The achievements of this city are awe inspiring. The scope and breadth of projects makes me draw breath, such is their extraordinary design and execution. From the largest man-made port in the world, Jebel Ali (which can be seen from the moon!) to the tallest building, Dubai certainly enjoys its reputation as a competitive beast among nations.

Come take a walk with me around Dubai. Photos of this place are enough to give you reason to visit such a moderate, tolerant, welcoming, modern Islamic city where camels live behind some of the the most expensive real estate in the world, and ladies who cover gladly share the pool (and some gossip!) with those in bikinis.

image

Boats travel through the Burj Lake Dubai Mall with Souk Al Bahar behind

image

The towers of Financial Centre (left to right: Liberty House, Financial Towers, Index Tower)

image

View of Burj Khalifa from Souk Al Bahar

image

Emirates Towers park

image

Cranes at Wafi City

image

Central Park Towers

image

Souk Al Bahar

image

Dubai seen from The Palm

image

Dubai camels at Zabeel behind DIFC

image

Burj Khalifa

image

Dubai Metro

image

Emirates Towers metro station in front of U.P Tower & Al Yakoub Tower

image

Jumeirah Emirates Towers taken from Crowne Plaza rooftop pool

Sunrise between Financial Towers (left) & Index Tower (right)

Sunrise between Financial Towers (left) & Index Tower (right)

image

Dubai Marina

image

One of the many bars in the skyscrapers of Dubai

image

Baby playmat with quintessential Dubai scene

image

The latest BMW outside the Ritz Carlton DIFC

image

The Westin Resort Mina Seyahi

image

Business Bay in construction taken from 26th floor Dusit Thani Hotel

image

A wall frèsco seen in Al Manara

DamacMaisons DIFC

DamacMaisons DIFC

image

Burj Al Arab frèsco spotted in Al Manara

image

Traditional welcome to any five star hotel: Arabic coffee and dates

image

View across Um Sequiem through to the Arabian Gulf from rooftop of the Sheraton Mall of the Emirates

image

Rooftop pool scene

image

Urban oasis: Conrad Hotel rooftop pool and parklands

image

Commuting on the Dubai Metro