Page 94 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Dubai & Abu Dhabi

92 ❯❯ Dubai and Abu Dhabi Area by Area

Al Ittihad Square
5 THE DISCOVERY OF OIL
MAP R1
A crop of supersized sculptures stand The Japanese invention of the cultured
in the small park at the centre of Al pearl and the subsequent collapse of
Ittihad Square, creating a whimsical the Gulf’s pearl industry led to the
contrast to the surrounding tower granting of petroleum concessions
blocks. The five sculptures feature a by Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan Al
gigantic coffeepot, a huge perfume Nahyan in 1939. It turned out to be a
very wise move. The discovery of oil in
bottle, an elaborate plate cover, a 1958 and its export from 1962 made
colossal cannon and a small fort. Abu Dhabi an extremely rich city.
Al Mina Souks
7
MAP T1 • Open 5am–11pm
Stretching away on the northern side
of Downtown Abu Dhabi is the city’s
Al Mina port area, stacked with cranes
and busy with boats. A trio of small
markets can be found here. The
so-called Carpet Souk (see p94)
comprises a small square with low-
key shops. The nearby food souk is
the heart of the city’s retail trade in
Potter at Abu Dhabi Heritage Village vegetables and fruit, while opposite is
the lively fish market, with the day’s
Abu Dhabi
6 catch laid out along the quay.
Heritage Village
Emirates Palace
MAP P1 • The Breakwater • 02 681 8
4455 • Open 9am–5pm Sat–Thu, Abu Dhabi’s magnificent pink
3:30–9pm Fri • www.visitabudhabi.ae palace hotel dominates the western
For a taste of life as it was in the end of the splendid Corniche. The
city before the discovery of oil, majestic multi-domed exterior is
Abu Dhabi’s Heritage Village is the surpassed in extravagance only by
place to come. In a superb location the dazzling interior, glittering with
directly over the water from the gold and sparkling with Swarovski
soaring towers of the Corniche, the crystals. The Emirates Palace was
village comprises a line of traditional constructed to provide opulent
barasti (palm-frond) huts, some of accommodation fitting for the capital’s
them turned into workshops in visiting dignitaries (see pp30–31).
which resident craftspeople can
sometimes be seen at work. Iconic facade of the Emirates Palace

Eyewitness Travel – Top 10 series LAYERS PRINTED:
Two-column, 8.5pt grid “UK” LAYER
(SourceReport v.1.9)
090-093_Top_10_Dubai.indd 92 17/05/2017 12:55
Date 24th June 2015
Size 100mm x 191mm