The Land of Skyscrapers

Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, UAE

Ramadan Kareem! It’s been 2 weeks since Ramadan started. Ramadan was supposed to be the nicest month of the year (for yours truly, of course). Shorter work hours, less pressure, everything moves at a more relaxed pace, and more family time! It’s a little troublesome if you wanna eat or drink, but for all the perks, that’s just a small price to pay hehe.

This Ramadan seems different though. Working my ass off. Only a day or two of early dismissal so far. Hope the remainder days of Ramadan could be nicer. Let’s see.

For now, (since I’ve not had time to sift thru photos), here’s more of Dubai, our home for the last …ummm 8 years (and a couple of years in the 2000s). Here’s a look at the main thoroughfare of Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Road, or what I call, the Avenue of Skyscrapers.


The E-11 Road, or Sheikh Zayed Road, named after the founding father of the UAE, is Dubai’s main thoroughfare. This picture was taken in 2017, things may have changed now as Dubai changes constantly. In its heydays (2008, when we first arrived), there were tower cranes for as far as the eye could see! It had the world’s highest concentration of tower cranes! One quarter of the world’s tower cranes were in Dubai!


Sheikh Zayed Road (SZR) at night, Aug 2020 – On the left are the Emirates Towers. The crescent moon shaped building in the middle is the Museum of the Future, which is near completion, and is about to open its doors in the near ‘future’ (whenever that is). On the road, you can see a Dynamic Message Sign (DMS) which is, ahem, erected through a Project led by yours truly, double ahem


This old picture from 2016 was one of the last photos taken from my trusty Blackberry Q10 before I switched phones. Alas, BB’s display became too small for my friggin eyes to read - how would I friggin know that my trusty eyes would give way by my mid-40s!?! This view is from Al A’amal Street, Business Bay, Dubai, in front of the Oberoi Hotel


View of SZR from our Company’s corporate office in JLT (Jumeirah Lake Towers) in 2020 – Far off, in the middle of the photo, is the Burj Al Arab, on an island in the sea


Towers reflected in the lakes, JLT, Dubai, 2018


A lone Arab lady peering over the lake in JLT (which kinda reminds me of Star Wars’ Emperor Palpatine… doesn't it?), 2018


Across the SZR from JLT is Dubai Marina and Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) – Do you see that twisted building on the centre left of the photo? That’s the Cayan Tower. Sometimes, you can see hang-gliders amidst the towers! Cool huh?


Here's a view of Dubai from the sea - JBR and the Marina Beach at dusk, from Bluewaters Isle, Dubai, 2019


This is a somewhat unrelated photo, but what the heck, it still shows Dubai's city line far off in the distance. It’s not on the SZR but on Al Khail Road, another important road in Dubai. The open-book-like building is the Mohammed bin Rashid Public Library. This photo was taken in 2019, from the Intercontinental Hotel in Dubai Festival City


And how can we not have the mother of all skyscrapers in this post? This is Burj Khalifa, the tallest structure and building in the world. Standing at 829.8m, it's over half a mile tall! - Dubai, Christmas Eve, 2020


Before we end, here's us at Bluewaters Island, just after the clock struck 12, on New Year's Day 2021, against a backdrop of the towers of JBR. Say Cheese!

That’s it. Another quick post done! Wishing all who are fasting, a blessed Ramadan!