A land of time-honored traditions and rapid lifestyle changes
What do many Indonesians have in mind when they think of the United Arab Emirates? Its oil? Sand? Dates? Football? Emirates airline? The teasing prices at its airport duty-free shops? Or simply as one of the richest countries in the world?
Many of us might not know, for example, that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) consists of seven emirates, or principalities. President Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan has ruled the federation for 30 years and provided leadership for over 50 years.
The seven emirates consist of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras al-Khaimah, Ajman, Umm al-Qaiwain and Fujairah.
The land is blessed with abundant hydrocarbon reserves that produce oil and gas - the mainstay of UAE's economy and will remain a major revenue earner long into the future - the non-oil sector contributes more than twice the oil sector's contribution to the country's gross domestic product (GDP).
The country is home to the world's best-of-the-best hotels.
Another dazzling achievement is that Jebel Ali Seaport, in Dubai, is dubbed the largest man-made port in the world.
After Hong Kong and Singapore, the UAE is the world's third most important re-export center.
For centuries, people in this land lived as seagoing traders on the shores of the Persian Gulf. When piracy became a problem in 1820, Britain entered into truces with the local emirs to end attacks on shipping and established a protectorate in the region.
Soon the principalities were known as the Trucial States. In 1971 they became independent and formed the federation of sheikhdoms now known as the UAE. Situated along the southern coast of the Persian Gulf, between the Qatar peninsula and the Straits of Hormuz, the federation share borders with Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Oman.
To many, this land conjures up images of undulating seas of sand. To some, the dunes are seen as obstacles. But, they are also responsible for trapping water, which would otherwise flow more rapidly toward the sea. Watching the pattern of the dunes and their constant motion is dazzling and just another unforgettable attraction of the desert.
Many might not know that this rich land also conceals a variety of wildlife, such as the Arabian tahr, leopard, oryx, sand gazelle and dhub lizard.
From the precipitous mountains and steep valleys of the northern emirates to the wind-sculpted sand dunes of Rub al-Khali and the low-lying coastal plains, the UAE is a land of contrasts that offers a rich variety of attractive scenery and a wide range of natural ecosystems.
In addition to this startling diversity, the contributions of man and technology have helped to shape new environments -- modern cities, industrial parks and residential centers on the one hand and vast, highly productive agricultural and afforested areas on the other.
There are numerous physical contrasts such as the high rise business centers of Abu Dhabi or Dubai and the limitless pristine dunes of the Empty Quarter. This contrast is also reflected in the UAE's recent history, for the UAE, until very recently, presented a completely different picture from the modern era, lacking virtually all the amenities that we take today for granted.
The cultural heritage is founded upon Islamic/Arabian traditions and corresponds closely to the skills and challenges of desert life, oases, fishing and diving.
Today, these lavish traditions are carefully nurtured, helping to provide context, strength and inspiration for a people who have experienced some of the most rapid lifestyle changes of the present era. Horsemanship, falconry, camel racing, longboat and dhow racing, folk dancing, music and poetry all form part of this enthusiastic ethnic expression.
Contrast and change are part of what makes the UAE such a fascinating, attractive and welcoming country, both for its own citizens and for its many visitors. (K. Basrie)