Dubai, United Arab Emirates

 If you are like me, you don't know much about the United Arab Emirates. The Portuguese had colonized some of the countries, but then were forced out by the British who called this area the Trucial States from 1820 until they withdrew from the area in 1968. This led the Sheiks from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to instigate a political  alliance with 5 other emirates to form the new United Arab Emirates, with Abu Dhabi as the capital, and the Sheik of Abu Dhabi as the leader. The seven states are Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Fujairah and Ras al Kaimah. Abu Dhabi and Dubai are the richest states,

We were in Dubai a few days ago, and found it to be a very modern, clean city with an impressive skyline of high rises, and new construction everywhere you look. We did a historic walk, but found that most historic buildings are gone, and  those that were restored appear highly sanitized.  The development of Dubai since oil was discovered in the 1960's is astonishing, but there is virtually no local character left.


The Al Fahadi Fort was built in 1787 as a palace for the ruler of Dubai. It became a museum  in 1971, and portrays the life and development of Dubai City. Unfortunately we were not able to go inside. 



 Dubai Creek flows through Dubai, and it has been deepened and widened to host and has a variety of boats and ferries, and has a wide pleasant pedestrian walkway along the edge. 

Dubai Creek

Pedestrian walkway on Dubai Creek



 The high light of our trip to Dubai was a visit  to the Louvre Museum of Dubai, which is  affiliated with the Louvre in Paris, and houses treasures from the Louvre collection. 

The entrance to the Louvre Dubai Museum

One of the large interior courtyards at the Louvre


An interior pool overlooking the harbor at the Louvre.

The permanent collection illustrates the development of civilization and religion across multiple cultures, comparting similarities and their impact on civilization. The museum seeks to highlight the similarities between religions, rather than their differences. The building is an amazing contemporary space covered by an enormous dome situated right on the water. The visiting exhibition was a large  exhibit on Impressionism on loan from the D'Orsay  Museum in Paris, with many famous and familiar pieces. 





A Renoir from the Impressionist Exhibition.


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