We can see clearly now...

...the smog has gone.

Over the past few days, Dubai and the UAE have been in mourning due to the death of its beloved Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who upon his death, held the posts of Ruler of the Dubai emirate, and was also Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE.

Sheikh Maktoum was an instrumental force in the forming of the UAE in the early 70s, and was witness to his father Sheikh Rashid, and the ruler of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Zayed, signing the agreement that was the catalyst to the 7 emirates coming together as the UAE.

You can read more about these inspirational men from the links in the sidebar of this blog.

As a result of Sheikh Maktoum’s death, in the UAE, a 3 day mourning period was declared for the private business sector, a 7 day mourning period for the public sector and government, and an official 40 day mourning period for the country. During this time, there are no parties, no loud music, flags are flown at half-mast, and all celebrations have been cancelled or postponed – even the Dubai Shopping Festival and the marathon.

This has also meant that there has been no work since Wednesday – and in particular, there is no construction taking place on any of the numerous building sites that are dotted around Dubai. No red, blue, green or yellow overalled men to be seen anywhere.

As a result, there is also no construction traffic: cement mixers; cement pumps; water trucks; cranes; trucks carrying sand, gravel, iron, building panels, rocks or glass – and no buses carrying the workers. In fact, there has been very little traffic of any kind.

For 2 days now, the air has been pollution-free and crystalline. So much so, that today from our 21th floor (this is what it says on the sign!) office, we have been able to clearly see the Emirates Road to the east, and over that, the jagged Hajjar mountains that border the UAE and Oman. Out west to sea, we spotted the oilrigs – and the horizon - the latter is usually cloaked in a layer of smog that obliterates the setting sun, and rarely allows for a decent sunset.

This clear air is fabulous! It gives us hope that, one day, when most of new Dubai has been built and the construction traffic is reduced, the clear skies and superb visibility will once again reign supreme.

Bring it on!

The images of the Grosvenor House Hotel and the Dubai Marina were taken tonight just after sunset.