Fujairah Set for 6.2% Population Growth

Fujairah on the Rise
The recent population projections released by the UAE’s Ministry of Economy reveal that Fujairah is to experience a significant 6.2% population increase in this next year (mid-2009) which is comparable to the overall growth of the UAE population (6.3%).

UAE Population
Over 300,000 people are expected to be added to the UAE population this year to record the highest growth of 6.3 per cent in five years. These figures seem to counter the stories of droves of expats leaving the country (here is the most recent) and deserting their half-paid vehicles in the long term airport car parks.

From 4.75 million in mid 2008, the UAE's population is projected to increase to 5.06 million in mid 2009, giving it one of the highest population growths in the world.

Emirate by Emirate
Dubai- Expected growth of 7.8%.
Sharjah-Expected growth of 7.5%
Fujairah- Expected growth of 6.2%.
Umm Al Quwain- Expected growth of 5.6%.
Ajman-Expected growth of 5.4%
Ras Al Khaimah-Expected growth of 4.3%
Abu Dhabi- Expected growth of 4.2%.

For more detail see:
UAE Population to Grow 6% in 2009, Emirates Business 24/7 or UAE Interact, 19 May 2009.

Dr Geoff Pound

Image: The Fujairah and UAE population on the rise.

Q and A for Quiz Night about Abu Dhabi to Fujairah Oil Pipeline

Dieter Blauberg, the project director for the Abu Dhabi Crude Oil Pipeline Project, spoke recently to the Middle East Oil and Gas Pipelines Conference in Abu Dhabi, about the new pipeline.

Here are the salient details just in case these questions are asked at your Quiz Night:

Facts in Brief
* First oil from UAE capital—January 2011
* Oil originating from Habshan, Abu Dhabi
* Length of pipeline—404 kilometres
* Capacity—1.5 million barrels per day of the black gold
* First tanker to load up in Fujairah with AD oil—January 2011
* Project completion date—August 2011
* 60% of UAE’s crude oil to go through pipeline to Arabian Sea

Benefits of Abu Dhabi—Fujairah Pipeline
* Will offset reliance on oil terminals in the Persian Gulf
* Will reduce congestion through the Strait of Hormuz
* More secure route will give greater reliability
* Will result in lower insurance costs
* Fujairah can accommodate larger vessels

Source: First Abu Dhabi oil to Load via Pipeline to Fujairah, BI-ME, 19 May 2009.

Dr Geoff Pound

Fujairah Expands Oil Storage, Port and Refinery

Increase in Oil Bunkering
AMEInfo recently announced (11 May 2009) that Emirates General Petroleum Corporation 'Emarat' has commenced the construction works of the expansion project at the Fujairah Storage Unit for storing and distributing gas oil, fuel, gasoline and jet fuel.

Expanding the Fujairah Storing Unit will increase the storage capacity from 50 thousand cubic meters to 250 thousand cubic meters.

New Industrial Fujairah Port
Captain Mousa Murad, the General Manager of Fujairah Port, told Business Intelligence Middle East that work on constructing a new port – called the Industrial Port – is under way,

Earlier this year (12 February 2009) Business Intelligence was told:
“When complete the terminal will be able to handle up to 70% of Abu Dhabi's total crude exports. The location near Fujairah Port means the oil will not have to pass through the strategically sensitive Strait of Hormuz.”

“Supplies will be delivered to the port through a pipeline and stored in giant reservoirs on the docks.”

New Refinery
Plans to build an oil refinery in Fujairah, in cooperation with the government of Abu Dhabi, with a capacity of up to 500,000 barrels per day, was being studied, said Murad.

Dr Geoff Pound

Image: Fujairah Port.

Career Exhibition Points to Healthy Employment Prospects in Fujairah

In a recent post I wrote about the mushrooming of new buildings as a sign of Fujairah’s ability to weather the current international recession.

The annual Career Exhibition in Fujairah which commenced on Tuesday (12 May 2009) and concludes Thursday (14 May 2009) has provided more than 300 job opportunities in federal and local institutions, including the armed forces and police.

The Fujairah Municipality alone is offering 155 job opportunities for UAE citizens who are diploma holders, this being part of the UAE’s drive towards Emiratization.

More on the Fujairah Career Fair:
Over 300 Jobs at Fujairah Career Fair, Khaleej Times Online, 14 May 2009.

Dr Geoff Pound

Image: Healthy Employment Prospects in Fujairah.

A Day in the Life of a Fujairah Shop Assistant

Some shops and businesses may open as early as 7.00am or 8.00am but the lifestyle of Mohammed Akhlak (pictured) is typical of many shop assistants working in Fujairah.

Mohammed is an electrician from New Delhi and he has been living in Fujairah for several months. He works selling mobile phones in a shop on Gurfa Road (one road up and parallel to the Fujairah corniche).

Typical Day
10.00am Mohammed starts work.
1.30pm Shop closes and Mohammed has lunch and sleeps until 4.30pm.
5.00pm Shop reopens and Mohammed is back to work.
11.30pm Shop closes and Mohammed has dinner, relaxes and watches TV.
1.00am Time for sleep.

Afternoon Siesta
The ancient practice of shops shutting for several hours in the heat of the afternoon is typical in country towns and cities like Fujairah. The custom is a thing of the past in many businesses in large cities like Abu Dhabi and Dubai where workers often live a long way from their homes and commuting can take forever.

Dr Geoff Pound

Image: Mohammed Akhlak getting ready to take lunch and a siesta.

Breakfast at Fujairah’s New Faseel Restaurant

Believing that breakfast is the best meal of the day and with many reasons to celebrate life we dined this morning at Fujairah’s newest eating house, the Faseel Restaurant, in the suburb of Faseel.

Location
The restaurant is on the ground floor of the new Siji Hotel Apartments which used to be called the Faseel Towers. It is part of the Siji Hotel in Fujairah’s main street.

Coming from Fujairah it is on Al Nakheel Road just before you get to the coffee pot roundabout and it is opposite the mosque. The restaurant has an access from the outside car park as well as internal doors for guests coming down from their apartments.

Fresh and Clean
Being only two months old the restaurant has a bright and clean appearance. The furniture, crockery and equipment are good quality. The waiters and chef are new to this facility and are eager to offer a pleasing and efficient service.

From the reception desk one looks to the end of the restaurant where there is an open kitchen at which you can order some cooked dishes that are part of the buffet breakfast.

Food
The chef cooked for us a tasty omelette and then some sausages and beef bacon. One of the distinctive things about this buffet is that less is precooked and sitting under warmers so one asks the chef to cook what you would like to eat. We were unsure what they will cook as part of the buffet but our question sprang from there being a small and unusual range of food under the warmers. They did have some delicious potato wedges. The range of bread and fruit was narrow compared with other breakfast buffets being offered in the city. The porridge was thin and watery as was the baked beans. The coffee was good.

Ambience
This is a small and intimate restaurant but it feels spacious when there are few diners. At 6.30am (on this Tuesday morning) there was only one other diner in the restaurant and most of the time we had the restaurant to ourselves. There is no signage on the outside announcing to the public the presence of the restaurant nor are there signs before each food warmer indicating what is inside.

Cost
The total cost of the buffet breakfast is Dh90.00 per person (Dh75.00 plus municipality taxes and service charges). As a contrast the Hilton Hotel, a stone’s throw away and with a view of the pool and beach, charges a total of Dh78.00 and the range of food there is much greater.

In Summary
Quality of food—Good
Menu selection/Variety—Inadequate to Average
Quality of Service—Excellent
Promptness of Service—Excellent
General Environment—Good
Value for Money—Low to average

Teething Issues
This restaurant is new so it may be going through some startup challenges with personnel learning to cater to an unpredictable and growing number of guests. The impression gained might be quite different on a second visit at a later date.

The Faseel Restaurant for breakfast is certainly worth checking out as a new eating establishment and to give a break from your regular spot. Try them out for lunch and dinner. The telephone number is 09 2232222 and email: sijiapt[@]emi.ae

Dr Geoff Pound

Image: Some shots of the Faseel Restaurant including my omelette and some delicious lychees that we had on our cereal and yoghurt.

Fujairah Residents Overcome Fear of Earthquakes with Emergency Plan

Hot on the heels of a quake early last Friday morning was another ‘mild’ quake registering 4.3 (epicenter in Gulf of Oman) and letting its presence be felt after 5.00am Sunday (10 May 2009).

As reported in an article on Friday, this movement has followed a series of small quakes earlier in the year.

There is no doubt that Fujairah and the northern emirates are quivering in a prolonged period of seismic unrest.

Quaking and Anxiety
Reports on Friday announced that some people in Fujairah and the surrounding region ran out of their homes. Phone calls for information ran hot. Blog sites with articles on this topic have registered numerous hits. It is obvious that international stories such as from China’s devastating pre-Olympic earthquakes have stoked the fires of anxiety.

The Gulf News concludes its brief report Sunday with this statement from the National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology in Abu Dhabi saying, “The tremors are mild and there is nothing to worry about.” From their experience the experts are rightly calling for calm and a measured response.

Prevention Plan Combats Fear
One of the best ways to overcome the fear of earthquakes is to prepare yourself well so that you know what you will do in the event of a sizeable earthquake striking.

Here are some tips from one of the scores of helpful sites:

How to be Prepared
Electricity, water, gas and telephones may not be working after an earthquake. The police and fire departments are likely to be tied up. You should be prepared to fend for yourself for at least three days, perhaps for a week.

You'll need food and water (a gallon a day per person); a first aid kit; a fire extinguisher suitable for all types of fires; flashlights; a portable radio; extra batteries, blankets, clothes, shoes and money (ATMs may not work); medication; an adjustable or pipe wrench to turn off gas or water, if necessary; baby and pet food; and an alternate cooking source (barbecue or camp stove). This list can also be applied to other disasters, such as floods or wildfires.

It's also a good idea to decide beforehand how and where your family will reunite if separated during a quake and to conduct in-home practice drills. You might choose an out-of-the-area friend or relative that family members can call to check on you.

Securing water heaters, major appliances and tall, heavy furniture to prevent them from toppling are prudent steps. So, too, are storing hazardous or flammable liquids, heavy objects and breakables on low shelves or in secure cabinets.

Discuss earthquake insurance with your insurance agent. Depending on your financial situation and the value of your home, it may be worthwhile.

During an Earthquake
If you're indoors, stay there. Get under -- and hold onto --a desk or table, or stand against an interior wall. Stay clear of exterior walls, glass, heavy furniture, fireplaces and appliances. The kitchen is a particularly dangerous spot. If you're in an office building, stay away from windows and outside walls and do not use the elevator.

If you're outside, get into the open. Stay clear of buildings, power lines or anything else that could fall on you.

If you're driving, move the car out of traffic and stop. Avoid parking under or on bridges or overpasses. Try to get clear of trees, light posts, signs and power lines. When you resume driving, watch out for road hazards.

If you're in a mountainous area, beware of the potential for landslides. Likewise, if you're near the ocean, be aware that tsunamis are associated with large earthquakes. Get to high ground.

If you're in a crowded public place, avoid panicking and do not rush for the exit. Stay low and cover your head and neck with your hands and arms.

After an Earthquake
Check for fire or fire hazards. If you smell gas, shut off the main gas valve. If there's evidence of damage to electrical wiring, shut off the power at the control box.

If the phone is working, only use it in case of emergency. Likewise, avoid driving if possible to keep the streets clear for emergency vehicles.

Be aware that items may fall out of cupboards or closets when the door is opened, and also that chimneys can be weakened and fall with a touch. Check for cracks and damage to the roof and foundation of your home.

Listen to the radio for important information and instructions. Remember that aftershocks, sometimes large enough to cause damage in their own right, generally follow large quakes.

If you leave home, leave a message telling friends and family your location.

Source:
What to Do in an Earthquake, State of California.

Check out a few more sites, adapt the information to your situation and work out your tailor-made plan for you and your family.

Dr Geoff Pound

Image: A wise idea to have an emergency plan.

Fujairah a Popular Port of Call for Cruise Ships

The Cruise Ship Companies are going into overdrive with their promotion of upcoming cruises and Fujairah is increasingly a popular port of call.

There is a lot of publicity about ‘The Brilliance of the Seas’ ship and the NT Arabian Tours which all begin in Dubai.

The Royal Caribbean Company says, “The introduction of its ‘Brilliance of the Seas’ cruise ship to the Middle East in January 2010 will add more than 32,000 guests in her first 4-month season to the region’s burgeoning cruise sector - which is currently worth US$100 million according to Cruise Market Watch.”

Crystal Cruises has joined up with American Airlines. Take a look at the price tag for a 19 night itinerary. Must still be a lot of spare cash around in the USA. The one off price (apart from paying for your booze) is an attraction about going on a cruise as you don’t have to go searching for your wallet every time you turn up for a meal in the ship’s restaurant.

If the price of Crystal Cruises looks steep, the Regent Seven Seas Voyager calls into Fujairah in October 2009 and is being offered through the Cheap Cruise Shop. There is another RSSV ship cruising into Fujairah on 9 November 2010.

The Costa Luminosa is steaming into Fujairah on 23 March 2010 as part of the Costa Discount Cruisers. Billed for as little as $140 a day this option is one of the most competitive.

Charms
‘The Brilliance of the Seas’ carries approximately 2,500 passengers so socializing rather than solitude is what you will get. Other companies promote their small ship and personal service in contrast to being on a floating town.

The time in the Fujairah Port is generally about 6 hours which gives time to see a historic mosque, a fort or have a sweep around the city. This is rather superficial. Probably one of the greatest attractions is the Fujairah coastline and to see the glorious Hajar mountains from the ocean.

Further:
Royal Caribbean to Create Hub in Dubai, Gulf News, 8 May 2009.
Dubai Adds Cruises to tourism drive, The National, 5 May 2009.
Luxury Cruises, The National, 7 February 2009.

Dr Geoff Pound

Any cruise ship companies wanting to offer a blogger a free first-hand experience of a Middle Eastern cruise, in return for a couple of stories, can contact me at geoffpound[@]gmail.com

Image: The ‘Brilliance of the Seas.’

Fujairah Feels Friday Earthquake

A 5.3 magnitude earthquake from near the southeast coast of Iran was felt 80 km away in Fujairah early on Friday morning (8 May 2009).

Reports have been received by Gulf News from shocked residents in Fujairah and the northern emirates nearest to Iran, such as Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman and Sharjah.

Today’s quake comes soon after four moderate earthquakes hit the UAE in February of this year.

Did you feel the tremor this morning?

Dr Geoff Pound

Fujairah Forging Ahead Despite Recession

Fujairah With Fresh Eyes
I have recently returned to Fujairah after several months away and it has been surprising to see the emirate with fresh eyes.

One would hardly think that a recession is affecting this eastern emirate. On the contrary there appear to be many signs of growth and progress.

New Buildings
In earlier postings I have written of the new buildings springing up in Fujairah. Check out a sample at these links:
City Mall and Retail Park
Seaside Apartment Tower
Apartment Overlooking Fish Roundabout
High Tower Overlooking Beach
Shopping Mall
Commercial Buildings
Hospital

Beyond these facilities there are other new developments. These strike you particularly when you enter into the top of Fujairah’s main street from Dubai.

To The Left
On the left side of the main street there is a new Rotana Tower with hotel and apartments.

According to a report (6 May 2009) Rotana Hotels in the UAE have seen a 15-20% decline in revenues in the first quarter of this year compared with the same quarter in 2008. But like many UAE companies, Rotana takes the view that this country will bounce back from the downturn faster than most countries.

Based in Abu Dhabi, Rotana is due to open six more hotels in the capital by October of this year and seven (including the one in Fujairah) by 2011.

Also being built on the left side is the 300 bed Al Fanar hotel which is part of Escan’s three tower development. This involves a three level shopping mall and three sky rise towers comprising 30, 25 and 20 levels respectively to be used for a mix of residential, commercial and hotel purposes.

Eyes Right
On the right side of the main street behind the high advertising walls there are other major developments aiming for a 2010 launch.

These include a 180 room Ibis Hotel and a 220 room Novotel Hotel and residences.

Further down at the lights and just before Etisalat you will note work going on at the Al Rostamani building (with Nissan Showroom underneath). Having erected a central tower, work is proceeding on two towers on either side. I hope the people already ensconced in their apartments were told of this development because their views are quickly getting blocked out! Quite a thought when the builders wake you outside your window at 6 in the morning with their jack hammers.

You can’t see it from the road but if you take a right turn after the Etisalat building and go 100 metres you will see that the Lulu Hypermarket is extending its reaches. Lulu management will be glad that it has the land because a shopping mall is being established there along with an extension of Lulu. This may mean that Lulu will move from being a Hypermarket to an Ultramarket.

Al Aqah Adds More
This article has been noting the new developments appearing in Fujairah’s main street. As the above links indicate there are new developments occurring in Faseel towards the Fujairah Free Zone and the Fujairah Port.

Added to this Le Méridien at the Al Aqah Beach Resort is undergoing a Dh10 million (US$2.7 million) refurbishment of its spa facility in order to become a premium spa destination.

What Recession?
There is bound to be pain being experienced in homes behind the high walls but the changing appearance of Fujairah suggests an emirate on the move and defying the financial challenges.

The steady expansion of the Fujairah Port with the associated new businesses in the Free Zone and the new oil pipeline from oil rich Abu Dhabi, now set to be operational in 2010, are creating jobs and are instilling confidence in the business community.

The new Dubai to Fujairah highway that will cut the commuting time as it bypasses the little towns like Dhaid, Masafi, Thoban and Dafta is set to boost the large number of weekend visitors to Fujairah and add to the numbers of Dubai and Sharjah workers who are choosing to reside in Fujairah.

Dr Geoff Pound

Image: “To see the emirate with fresh eyes.”

Fifteen Fantastic Things to Do in Fujairah

TimeOutDubai has issued (4 May 2009) its ‘50 Fantastic Things to Do in the UAE’.

It is a great compilation with a few quirky numbers but as expected from a Dubai promotions magazine, it is very Dubaicentric.

Fujairah rates a mention with its traditional bull butting and there is a fleeting reference to diving on the east coast.

I thought it might be helpful to compile a similar list of 15 Fantastic Things to Do on the way and while in Fujairah.

Do remember to include features from the east coast parts of the emirate of Sharjah such as Kalba or Khor Fakkan.

Please leave as a Comment your suggestion of a place or a Fujairah experience that you believe should make such a list.

Dr Geoff Pound
Contactable on email at geoffpound[@]gmail.com and at Facebook

Collage: Some images from Fujairah (click to magnify).

Related:
Experiencing the Emirates asks the question: Is the UAE on the '10 Worst Countries to be a Blogger' List?

When Your Number is Up in Fujairah

I have written (perhaps as therapy) about the propensity for queue jumping in Fujairah and it looks like many companies are doing something to deal with customers who get out of line.

Companies like Etisalat have had for many years a system whereby people take a number that in the fullness of time, appears in lights (in both Arabic and English) and is announced by a beeping sound.

The HSBC bank in Fujairah has recently introduced this similar system of ‘first come first served’. One of the customer service staff at HSBC said that older Emirati clients were taking a long time to get used to the new system. I said, “Is that because the numbers appear only in English and not in Arabic?” She said, “No. It’s because many of the older people cannot read.”

This is a good reminder of how a large proportion of the national citizens of Fujairah are still very much living in an oral world.

Dr Geoff Pound
Contact at geoffpound[@]gmail.com or on Facebook

Image: “This similar system of ‘first come first served.’” Photo courtesy of Google Images.

Do Expats Call the UAE Home?

* How do expats cope with the feeling of ‘suspended animation’ from real life?

* How do expats help shape the national and cultural identity of their children while encouraging them to experience fully the delights of multicultural UAE?

* While the UAE government is promoting measures to help expats integrate into the Emirates to what extent do newcomers avail themselves of these opportunities?

* Expats can feel released from ‘civic responsibilities’ but how do they cope with the feelings of selfishness and knowing they are mainly here for the dirhams and the perks?

* How might expats play a meaningful part in the shaping of the future of the UAE?

These questions are raised and discussed in the insightful article by Claudia Pugh-Thomas that can be found at this link:

Claudia Pugh-Thomas, Finding an Expat Role in the UAE, The National, 2 May 2009.

Related Articles:
Tim Brooks, Expats Urged to Embrace Culture, The National, 2 May 2009.
How Well Do You Know the Emirates, The National, 1 May 2009.
Alex Rolandi, So, Could You Pass the Emirates Patriotic Test?, The National, 1 May 2009.

Dr Geoff Pound
Contact at geoffpound[@]gmail.com or Facebook about blogging, writing projects or whatever.

Image: Brazilian expats in the UAE. Photo courtesy of TimeOut Dubai.

Pay Day in Fujairah

Getting out in the streets over the weekend (Friday and Saturday) I was amazed at the large numbers of people out shopping.

When I remarked on this to a worker at the bank she said it was due to it being pay day.

Some people get paid on the last day of the month while others get paid on the first day of the month and this explains the numbers of people out in their droves, withdrawing dirhams, wiring part of their pay to relatives overseas and enjoying their monthly spend up.

Depending on whether you want to avoid the crowds or see lots of local culture it is good to remember this trend at the end and beginning of each month.

Dr Geoff Pound

Contact:
If you have a comment, an idea for a story etc., I can be contacted by email at geoffpound[@]gmail.com or on Facebook.

Location and Depth Attract Oil Tankers to Fujairah Port

In an extensive interview with Captain Mousa Murad, General Manager of the Port of Fujairah, Hugh Naylor of The National discovers that there are exciting prospects for Fujairah.

Find out about the growth in the bunkering business at Fujairah and the General Manager’s commitment to stop the oil spillages that are damaging the coastline.

Link:

Hugh Naylor, Fujairah Port thrives on Growing Tanker Traffic, The National, March 8, 2009.

Dr Geoff Pound

Image: Location and depth.

Yet Another Oil Dumping in the Fujairah Waters

Three oil slicks in the Arabian Gulf are threatening to wash up on the shores of Fujairah, local fishermen say. They are concerned by an increase in the number of slicks since the start of the year after an apparent reduction in previous months.

In this last year there were over 15 incidents of oil dumping off the Fujairah coast.

There are ample reports about the growth of the oil industry in the emirate of Fujairah. There is an urgent need for the public to hear more about the surveillance and fining systems that Fujairah and Sharjah authorities are putting into place to stop oil dumping in the future which creates havoc for the marine environment, hotels and diving companies.

For the details of this tragedy follow this link:

Hugh Naylor, Illegal Dumping Suspected as Oil Slicks Sighted off Fujairah, The National, 1 March 2009.

Dr Geoff Pound

Image: Previous scenes of oil washed up on Fujairah beaches.

Shipping Container Industry Sinks in Financial Recession

The National reports:
“Worldwide container handling could fall for the first time and Middle East industry growth might be curtailed sharply this year, according to a shipping consultancy.”

“The worsening global economic downturn has battered international shipping lines, and the declining trade also poses challenges for global port operators.”

Fujairah Port and Trade
Pertinent to the Fujairah location is this paragraph:

“Because freight rates are dictated by supply and demand, shipping lines are even more exposed to the downturn than ports companies, which have set rates. Ship operators have been forced to cut rates and lay up vessels in anchorages from Singapore to Fujairah to await new orders.”

For the full report:
Ivan Gale, Worldwide Container Trade Could Fall, The National, 12 February 2009.

Dr Geoff Pound

Image: Container ship at Fujairah Port, Photo courtesy of Jeff Topping and The National from the above link.

Investing in Others in Fujairah and the UAE

Often the idea is promoted that the UAE is a country that is focused on self-advancement and national promotion but there is a great story in The National about charity, humanitarian projects and investing in others, part of which has this Fujairah reference:

“Trekking for Nepal, which is based out of Fujairah, is another adventure-themed project dedicated to giving back in the UAE as well as abroad. Its founders, Mita Srinivasan, a marketing and PR director, and Carol Hyland, a graphic designer, support both the Welfare Association of Fujairah, a government-funded organisation that helps widows and their families prosper, as well as the New Youth Orphanage in Kathmandu, Nepal.”

For the whole story follow this link:
Effie-Michelle Metallidis, Investment in Others, The National, 14 February 2009.

Dr Geoff Pound

Image: Nawal Hassan, above, accepts a donation for the Palestine Children’s Refugee Relief Fund. One of the many charities cited in the article. Image courtesy of The National at the above link.

Big Wedding in Fujairah

The big event in Fujairah at this time is the royal wedding of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi and the further cementing of ties between Fujairah and Dubai and the ruling families of both emirates.

Over the way from the Fujairah palace is a series of large tents for the festive occasion and the surrounding streets are decorated with colored lights and designs.

Two interesting extras:

Land of secrets
There are some small, old perhaps dilapidated looking houses on the main road not far from the Palace. They have huge placards in front of them so visitors cannot see them—a new variation on the theme of walls, veils, tinted windows and curtained restaurant rooms. This is also what happens in Olympic cities where the poor are removed and their squalid dwellings bulldozed to create a good appearance for visitors.

Invisibility of Women
Note the way that WAM reports the wedding celebrations:
WAM is reporting this news:
“Fujairah, 9 Feb. 2009 (WAM) - His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Fujairah attended this evening the start of celebrations for the wedding of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi to the daughter of Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.”“The celebrations were also attended by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Sheikhs, senior officials, dignitaries and citizens.”

Men are named in official reports but women are usually made invisible and are referred to as “the daughter of”. In UAE museums women do not appear in diagrams listing the family tree of different families.

And still, despite women playing the major part in the rearing of children, even of royal families, they are given little mention or credence.

Congratulations to the new couple! Salaam!

Dr Geoff Pound

Image: H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi

Some Internal Flooding in Fujairah

Some buildings and centres with open-air courtyards were flooded this morning from the overnight rain.

Volunteers were bailing out water from the Sudanese Social Club in King Fayssal Rd., in Fujairah today and trucks with high-pressure water facilities were employed to remove the mud.

Dr Geoff Pound

Image: “Volunteers were bailing out water from the Sudanese Social Club, Fujairah.”