Reem Island / Maryah Island

I just thought I would take some photos to show how things are developing on these islands. Some are below, but there is also a full album linked below.


The towers of Abu Dhabi Investment Council and Al Hilal Bank. This was taken from Al Salam Street, Eastern Corniche.

The bridge across to Reem Island from Defense Road (11th Street)

Marina Square, Reem Island

Shams Abu Dhabi, including Sky And Sun Towers and the Gate Towers - which remind me of Marina Bay Sands Hotel in Singapore

The Paris Sorbonne University on Reem Island

The long awaited Salam Street tunnel!

This is Al Maryah Island (formally Al Sowwah Island - I don't think its sounds too good when you are pitching to global businesses! - it's pronounced Soo-wah). I thought I would label it so you can see what's what. There is also a video clip below from the same spot.

The clip pans from ADFC across to The Beach Rotana, Abu Dhabi Mall and Le Meridien Hotel beach.

...and here is the full photo album (sorry I should have exported larger files)

Around Abu Dhabi City

Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange

I know I have blogged before about the Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange (here), but this picture from the front of the Business section of The National reminded me of what it is like! I'm sure everyone has seen coverage from the NYSE or LSE, where everything is manic and fast paced. Well not here! It is a pretty good representation of how life and business is conducted in general Abu Dhabi stylee; reserved, slow, considered and with cigarettes and coffee in a big comfy chair......

More misc......

Sorry about the quality of these pictures, they are just snapped from my phone, often hurriedly!


Abu Dhabi Securities Market


This is not like any other stock exchange I have ever been in! (and I have been in a few) It has a very chilled vibe about the place, not the hustle and bustle you would expect. Guys just sitting around in big comfy leather armchairs drinking coffee - and trading $4Bn a day! I think the exchange is really the only legal gambling in UAE :-)

Red Flag Men

This is seen all over the UAE -a Red Flag Man at roadworks. He is a human warning light system - I guess because he is cheaper! So, basically he stands there all day waving (not very vigorously after anything more than 10 minutes) a red flag to warn drivers that there are roadworks, which is totally pointless because by the time you see the man you are already in the roadworks!

Blackberry meeting

This might be why the world is in such a crisis! I saw these guys having a breakfast meeting and everyone of them was on his Blackberry. Maybe if they tried talking to each other some business might get done!

An exchange on a Friday

All the currency exchanges are busy on a Friday in the UAE as expats are queuing to send home what little money they can.

Palm Tree?

I think not! Just managed to snap this as I drove by. A telecoms mast cunningly (not very) disguised as a palm tree.