A land of time-honored traditions and rapid lifestyle changes<\/p>\n
What do many Indonesians have in mind when they think of the
\nUnited Arab Emirates? Its oil? Sand? Dates? Football? Emirates
\nairline? The teasing prices at its airport duty-free shops? Or
\nsimply as one of the richest countries in the world?<\/p>\n
Many of us might not know, for example, that the United Arab
\nEmirates (UAE) consists of seven emirates, or principalities.
\nPresident Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan has ruled the
\nfederation for 30 years and provided leadership for over 50
\nyears.<\/p>\n
The seven emirates consist of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras
\nal-Khaimah, Ajman, Umm al-Qaiwain and Fujairah.<\/p>\n
The land is blessed with abundant hydrocarbon reserves that
\nproduce oil and gas - the mainstay of UAE's economy and will
\nremain a major revenue earner long into the future - the non-oil
\nsector contributes more than twice the oil sector's contribution
\nto the country's gross domestic product (GDP).<\/p>\n
The country is home to the world's best-of-the-best hotels.<\/p>\n
Another dazzling achievement is that Jebel Ali Seaport, in
\nDubai, is dubbed the largest man-made port in the world.<\/p>\n
After Hong Kong and Singapore, the UAE is the world's third
\nmost important re-export center.<\/p>\n
For centuries, people in this land lived as seagoing traders
\non the shores of the Persian Gulf. When piracy became a problem
\nin 1820, Britain entered into truces with the local emirs to end
\nattacks on shipping and established a protectorate in the region.<\/p>\n
Soon the principalities were known as the Trucial States. In
\n1971 they became independent and formed the federation of
\nsheikhdoms now known as the UAE. Situated along the southern
\ncoast of the Persian Gulf, between the Qatar peninsula and the
\nStraits of Hormuz, the federation share borders with Qatar, Saudi
\nArabia and Oman.<\/p>\n
To many, this land conjures up images of undulating seas of
\nsand. To some, the dunes are seen as obstacles. But, they are
\nalso responsible for trapping water, which would otherwise flow
\nmore rapidly toward the sea. Watching the pattern of the dunes
\nand their constant motion is dazzling and just another
\nunforgettable attraction of the desert.<\/p>\n
Many might not know that this rich land also conceals a
\nvariety of wildlife, such as the Arabian tahr, leopard, oryx,
\nsand gazelle and dhub lizard.<\/p>\n
From the precipitous mountains and steep valleys of the
\nnorthern emirates to the wind-sculpted sand dunes of Rub al-Khali
\nand the low-lying coastal plains, the UAE is a land of contrasts
\nthat offers a rich variety of attractive scenery and a wide range
\nof natural ecosystems.<\/p>\n
In addition to this startling diversity, the contributions of
\nman and technology have helped to shape new environments --
\nmodern cities, industrial parks and residential centers on the
\none hand and vast, highly productive agricultural and afforested
\nareas on the other.<\/p>\n
There are numerous physical contrasts such as the high rise
\nbusiness centers of Abu Dhabi or Dubai and the limitless pristine
\ndunes of the Empty Quarter. This contrast is also reflected in
\nthe UAE's recent history, for the UAE, until very recently,
\npresented a completely different picture from the modern era,
\nlacking virtually all the amenities that we take today for
\ngranted.<\/p>\n
The cultural heritage is founded upon Islamic\/Arabian
\ntraditions and corresponds closely to the skills and challenges
\nof desert life, oases, fishing and diving.<\/p>\n
Today, these lavish traditions are carefully nurtured, helping
\nto provide context, strength and inspiration for a people who
\nhave experienced some of the most rapid lifestyle changes of the
\npresent era. Horsemanship, falconry, camel racing, longboat and
\ndhow racing, folk dancing, music and poetry all form part of this
\nenthusiastic ethnic expression.<\/p>\n
Contrast and change are part of what makes the UAE such a
\nfascinating, attractive and welcoming country, both for its own
\ncitizens and for its many visitors. (K. Basrie)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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