THE AL KHAWANEEJ WALK

The Al Khawaneej Walk is a place where great shopping and being close to nature meets. It is a place where you can dine, meet friends and enjoy the view. 

At night, the place becomes even more attractive as the lights come alive.

A Trip to Hatta, United Arab Emirates

 Hatta is part of the Emirate of Dubai surrounded by Oman, Ras Al Khaimah, and Ajman. It is about 150 km from the heart of Dubai. 

The view of the Hajjar mountains is just magnificent.

Hatta Dam offers a great view where tourists can also go kayaking.

The Heritage Village is also worth a visit. 

The Waterfront Market

 The Waterfront Market in Deira is where residents get their supply of fresh fish.

Fully air conditioned and quite clean, it has spacious sections for vegetables and meat.

A few vendors could be overheard joking that their vegetables have "1 year warranty".

There is a place for meat lovers of course.

The artwork in the building invokes the idea of sustainable management of resources, with the fishes above swimming and forming the infinity symbol.

If you do not fancy cooking at the moment, one can go to nearby restaurants for a hearty meal.

Or just enjoy the view. 

Al Rafisah Dam, Sharjah

Al Rafisah Dam is located in Khor Fakkan  in the  Emirate of Sharjah. This is a destination that is worth  the time and effort of driving about 120 kilometers from Dubai along the Sharjah Khor Fakkan Road.

Situated in the middle of magnificent mountains, the contrast is just breathtaking.

There is nothing like breathing in the fresh air and watch time go by, with the shifting clouds and the shadows and colors of the mountains.

The recreation area also offers water activities that would enhance the experience, like kayaking and pedal boating.

The Cove Rotana, Ras Al Khaimah

Looking for a place to relax  and have a family summer staycation in Ras Al Khaimah? Try the Cove Rotana. The view, the villas, the food would certainly not disappoint.

I just love the mix of traditional and modern interior design at the reception.

It gives you that fresh feeling of getting away from the urban hassles, but has that reassurance that you are still not too far away from modern comforts.

A view of the pools and the beach gives you that idea you are in for a really exciting hotel stay.

The view of the sunset at the Arabian Gulf is soothing to the soul.

Especially if you know you would wake up in the morning, again, to something like this. 

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi

If you plan to visit the UAE, this one should be in your list. The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is magnificent, inside and out.

The design and  interior of the mosque also leaves you at a loss for words. 

We left the place just when the evening call to prayer started, and it is a totally different experience.

Zabeel Park Children's Playgrounds

There are a lot of play grounds for your little kids around Dubai and Zabeel Park should be one of the better options.

It is very accessible, has plenty of natural shades and seamlessly designed to give you and your kids a good time.

 

It is definitely a great place to just let kids be kids in a way that allows you to sit quietly, read a book or just relax and let the weekend go by.