Books About The Middle East

A random list of books I read about the Middle East so far:

1. Arabian Nights & Day by Naguib Mahfouz
2. The Kite Runner: A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
3. Rags to Riches: A story of Abu  Dhabi by Mohammed Al-Fahim
4. Uncharted Journey: Promoting Democracy in the Middle East by Thomas Carothers and Marina Ottaway, editors
5. A Woman in Arabia by Gertrude Bell
6. T.E. Lawrence: Seven Pillars of Wisdom by T.E. Lawrence
7. A History of the Arab Peoples by Albert Hourani
8. The Arabs by Eugene Rogan
9. Domestic and Security Challenges in the Arab Gulf States by F. Gregory Gause
10. Lords of the Desert by James Barr
11. Arabian Sands by Wilfred Thesiger
12. Florence of Arabi by Christopher Buckley
13. Abud Dhabi: oil and beyond by Christopher Davidson
14. The mother without a Mask by Patricia Holton
15. A Diamond in the desert by Jo Tatchell
16. Popular Culture and Political Identity in the Arab States
17. The Gulf Family: Kinship Policies and Modernity by Alamoud Alshareck
18. Oil Monarchies
19. What is really wrong with the Middle East by Brian Whitaker
20. Dubai by Jo Bennet
21. Arabic Language for Foreigners.
22. Sultan in Oman by Ian Morris
23. Celestial Bodies by Jokha Alharthi
24. The Kabul Beauty School by Deborah Rodriguez
25. The Sand fish by Maha Gargash
26. Western Privilege by Amelie de Renard

The Hamptons in Arabia

The first thing that came to my mind when I first saw the beach of the Park Hyatt hotel on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi was memories from the Hamptons on Long Island. Unlimited beach, white sand and huge waves. From these three, only the first is original, the rest is made by the Abu Dhabians. It is common practice to do things as they like in this place of earth. They bought white sand, put some artificial reefs in the sea in order to create waves, et voila! The Hamptons at our feet (Arabia). Enjoy the photos!

Το πρώτο πράγμα που ήρθε στο μυαλό μου όταν είδα την παραλία του ξενοδοχείου Park Hyatt,στο νησί Saadiyat στο Aμπου Ντάμπι, ήταν αναμνήσεις από τα Χάμπτονς στο Λονγκ Αιλαντ. Απεριόριστη παραλία, άσπρη άμμο και τεράστια κύματα. Από τα τρία, μόνο το πρώτο είναι αληθινό, τα υπόλοιπα είναι φτιαγμένα από τους Αμπου Νταμπιανούς. Είναι πολύ συνηθισμένο σε αυτό το σημείο του πλανήτη να κάνουν ό,τι επιθυμούν και όπως το επιθυμούν. Aγόρασαν άσπρη άμμο, έβαλαν και ψεύτικά βράχια μέσα στην θάλασσα για να δημιουργήσουν κύματα, et voila! Tα Χάμπτονς στα πόδια μας και στις φωτογραφίες παρακάτω :

Desert Island-Sir Bani Yas

Sir Bani Yas,  the island which I visited recently, has something unique and its uniqueness is relied on the fact that it  is natural, a real island, a characteristic which  is quite uncommon in this man made land of the United Arab Emirates. It is located just off the shore of the Western region of Abu Dhabi.

The name Sir Bani Yas Island originates from the Bani Yas tribe, who first inhabited Abu Dhabi. Sir Bani Yas Island was created millions of years ago when natural geological forces created the ´salt dome´ island present today.

The first human settlers arrived several thousand years ago, long before people set foot on what was later to become the United Arab Emirates. Thirty-six archaeological sites have been discovered throughout Sir Bani Yas, each providing a distinct insight into the island´s history. One of the oldest sites is the remains of a pre-Islamic monastery which dates back to 600 AD. Each of these sites has now been carefully covered, to protect them until the time when they can be incorporated into the destination experience.

Sir Bani Yas Island was first mentioned in European literature around 1590, when the Venetian jeweller Gasparo Balbi listed ´Sirbeniast´ as an island around which pearls were often found. It was also described in some detail during the 1820s and 1850s by British naval officers who were surveying the lower Gulf waters.

Bani Yas Island was originally home to Arabia’s largest wildlife reserve. Spanning over 87 km² the reserve was established in 1971 by the late ruler and founder of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

The hotel’s entrance

The only accommodation for the visitors  is  the Desert Islands Resort & Spa Hotel  by Anantara which has  64 rooms including six private lodges   spa, swimming pool etc. The hotel’s architecture and decoration blend in marvellous in the whole environment of the island.

P.S. It was from the nicest experience in Abu Dhabi