An adventure of the most rapid lifestyle changes

An adventure of the most rapid lifestyle changes

What do many Indonesians have in mind about this country? Its
oil? Sand? Date? Football team and leagues? The Emirate Airline?
The teasing prices at its airport dutyfree shops? Or simply as
one of the richest countries in the world?

Many of us here might not know that, for example, the United
Arab Emirates consists of seven emirates, or principalities, and
President Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan has ruled the
federation for 30 years. He actually has provided leadership to
his country for over 50 years.

The seven emirates consist of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras
al-Khaimah, Ajman, Umm al-Qaiwain and Fujairah. Sheikh Zayed is
also ruler of Abu Dhabi.

Find the names hard to read and remember? No problem, just
read it once again and you can show off your intelligence to your
friends and colleagues.

Although the land is blessed with its abundant hydrocarbon
reserves to produce oil and gas, which has been 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 GDP.

The country is home to the best of the best hotel in the
world. Located in an artificial land, ....

Another dazzling record of wonder is that the Jebel Ali
seaport, which is part of Dubai's free-zone, is dubbed as the
largest man-made port in the world.

After Hong Kong and Singapore, the UAE has been known as the
world third most important re-export center.

In UAE, one could witness that there are more women in higher
education than men.

For centuries, people in this land lived as seagoing traders
on the shores of the Persian Gulf. When piracy became a nuisance
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 UAE. Situated along the southern coast of
the Persian Gulf between the Qatar peninsula to the west and the
Straits of Hormuz, the federation share borders with Qatar, Saudi
Arabia and Oman.

Talking about this particular land will remind anyone about
the undulating seas of sand. To some, the dunes are of course
bring obstacles. But they are also responsible for trapping water
that would otherwise flow more rapidly towards the sea. But
watching the pattern of the dunes and their dazzling constant
motion is just another unforgettable attraction of the desert.

Many might have not know that this rich emirates 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 the Rub al-
Khali and the low-lying coastal plains, the UAE is a loand 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.

The physical contrasts that we can observe today, between --
for example -- the high rise business centers of Abu Dhabi or
Dubai and the limitless pristine dunes of the Empty Quarter are
also reflected in time, for the UAE of very recent memory
presented a completely different picture from the modern era,
lacking virtually all the amenities of the present.

Also, cultural traditions are founded upon Islamic/Arabian
heritage and an historical dependence upon the skills and
challenges of desert life, oasis farming, fishing, and pearling.

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, folkloric 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)