Sheikh Zayed Mosque

Whether you are a tourist or a resident, a visit to the Sheikh Zayed Mosque is definitely well worth the effort. And the best part - everybody is welcome!

10 years in the making, the marble-clad Sheikh Zayed Mosque is said to be the third largest mosque in the world. Decorated with thousands of rare and semi-precious stones, some encrusted in the marble, it is built on a 9.5 metre hill so it is visible from a distance. It covers an area of 22,000 sq metres and can accommodate about 40,000 worshippers. It was named after the first president of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahayan who died in 2004 and was buried in the grounds of the mosque.

The main prayer hall hosts the largest dome in the world at 75 metres high with a diameter of just over 32m. The crystal chandelier, also the world's largest, was crafted in Germany, and at 10m tall and 10m wide, weighs a massive 9 tonnes. The centrepiece in the main prayer hall is a 6,000 sq m hand-made Persian carpet of intricate designs on which 9,000 Muslims pray every Friday.

All around the main prayer hall and the mosque grounds there are columns decorated in Mother of Pearl floral patterns - there are over 1,100 columns in all. The domes, many in Moroccan style are decorated with gold leaf and are inscribed with Islamic scripture. There are walls decorated with vividly coloured Turkish tiles, and Chinese and Indian green and white marble structures are dotted around the mosque grounds.

The mosque is beautiful, opulent and stunning, but at the same time there is a feeling of serenity and a calmness that is unexpected with a few hundred visitors and a few hundred more workers still working on the mosque, both inside and out. You could quite easily sit on that huge Persian carpet for hours contemplating life without anyone taking the slightest bit of notice. Of course we visited in the morning before prayer time so it was easy to take our time.

The Abu Dhabi Tourist Authority (ADTA) arranges guided tours every day except Friday and Saturday, and the guides are very informative and happy to answer all questions. Both men and women must remove their shoes before entering the prayer halls (there are lockers to store your shoes), but you can wear socks. Women must cover their hair and be modestly dressed. Abayas and sheylas are provided if you don't have any of your own. Men should wear trousers rather than shorts. Eating and drinking is not allowed in the prayer halls but you are offered cartons of water after the tour has finished. Photographs are allowed in all areas except Sheikh Zayed's tomb.

It is hoped that the mosque will be fully completed by the end of Ramadan 2009. This includes all parking areas, landscaping, an Islamic Studies Centre, a library and ADTA offices.

Finding somewhere to live

One of the main problems for both new arrivals and current residents in the past year or two in Abu Dhabi has been finding accommodation within their budget. Some companies provide housing with the contract, others provide an allowance towards housing, and still others give an 'all inclusive' salary, out of which you find and pay for your own accommodation.

The main problem in recent years is that there are not enough housing units to accommodate the number of new and current residents. This has meant that many new residents have had to spend weeks or sometimes months in hotel apartments or temporary housing belonging to their company(if this is available) before finding suitable housing. In some cases, families of the main earner may have to stay in their home countries until a place is found.

The reason for this problem: the rapid growth of Abu Dhabi in a short amount of time leading to a huge number of new residents. The construction industry is not able to keep up with the current demand and large multinational and national companies are prepared to pay over the odds for accommodation to attract high level, experienced personnel to their companies. It's a problem which is not going away in a hurry.

Five years ago it was not unusual for a family to be able to afford to live in a villa on the island with a back yard or garden and possibly even a shared pool. Off the island in areas such as Khalifa City, a pool or large garden was almost gauranteed. Nowadays, most families who are new to Abu Dhabi have to live in apartments on the island and pay much more for off-island villas if they are available. In the city, areas such as Khalidiya Village, Bateen, Muroor and the Corniche can cost a minimum of 250,000 dhs, and some near the Marina Mall rent for about 650,000 dhs per year. Villas off the island of Abu Dhabi in areas such as Khalifa City, or other popular spots such as Sas Al Nakeel, Bain Al Jessrain, Seashore Villas or Mangrove Village can cost anything from 190,000 dhs to 250,000 dhs and above for a four bedroomed villa.

Apartment rentals vary too, with some parts of the city being typically more expensive than others. Areas such as Khalidiya, Corniche, Bateen, Mushrif and Manasir are either near the sea, or they are more sought after because they are quieter, have more parking availability or have buildings which are only 4 - 12 storeys high. A three bedroom apartment in these areas can cost anything from 95,000 dhs to 180,000 dhs depending on proximity to the sea and the facilities in the building. In the city centre in locations such as Hamdan Street, Electra Street, Najda Street and Falah Street (Passport Road) the rent will be slightly less but parking is difficult to find and traffic is bad at peak times.

There will be some relief when the new buildings on Reem Island are available for rent. Expats who bought there will be able to enjoy either rent free living in their own apartments, or a very good rental income on their investment. However, the first of these will not be ready for at least another year, and according to a recent article in Gulf News, Abu Dhabi is already short 20,000 housing units for the next year.

If you are in the process of negotiating a contract to come to Abu Dhabi, be sure to address the area of accommodation very carefully. The best option is to have the company provide you with accommodation, as they will absorb the increases as the rent goes up. However, many companies are now avoiding this because they are having problems both finding and keeping accommodation. If you are responsible for sourcing and paying for your own housing, try to get the best possible deal now, or include an agreement in your employment contract related to housing increase. The rent cap was fixed by the government at 5% for this calendar year. This was only for current tenants. If you are a new tenant, a landlord can charge any price and will always find someone who is willing or desperate enough to pay whatever is asked - the age old issue of supply and demand.

A website I came across recently which might be useful is http://www.2rentuae.com/

Note: The UAE dirham is fixed at a rate of: $US1 = 3.68 AED

Bringing Medicines into the UAE

The UAE's zero tolerance policy towards drug taking and possession seems to have tightened up considerably recently. Tourists coming into and transiting through the country are under scrutiny, with new drug detection equipment in use at airports and ports of entry.

Some medicines which are available over the counter or on prescription in the home country of the tourist are on a banned or controlled list in the UAE, and travellers need to familiarise themselves with the medicines on that list. Many remedies for coughs and colds (especially anything which contains codeine), some anti-depressants, sleeping pills, painkillers and hormone replacement therapy drugs are banned in the UAE. As a visitor, you should not carry any of the banned narcotics and you should have a prescription from your doctor with you if you are bringing any of the controlled medicines into the country.

In addition, poppy seeds, betel leaves and betel nuts are also banned. The minimum sentence for any drug related crime is 4 years.

Travel agents do not always know or do not always inform potential tourists of the rules, so it is better to check with the UAE embassy in your home country before travelling. The most up-to-date list available at the moment accompanies an article on the Fair Trials website.