Abu Dhabi I managed to visit Abu Dhabi several times while I was living in the Middle East and what follows are some of the photos I took there. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque – it is the largest mosque in the United Arab Emirates and was built in 2007 AD. Inside the Grand Mosque. Entrance into the Grand Mosque, which is adorned with a colorful vine and floral pattern on the floor and walls. One of the flower chandeliers inside the mosque. Courtyard of the Grand Mosque. Steps leading to the main entrance of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Another view of the courtyard in the Grand Mosque. Sun shining down on Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Emirates Palace – a luxury 5-star hotel in Abu Dhabi that even has its own gold vending machine (the price is constantly updated to reflect the current trading price of gold). Steps leading up to the entrance of Emirates Palace. Example of a traditionally constructed house, found in the U.A.E. Heritage Village in Abu Dhabi. Traditional female dress with a battoulah (metallic-looking mask), on display in the U.A.E. Heritage Village. Looking up at a building in Masdar City – a futuristic planned city in Abu Dhabi that uses solar and renewable energy sources; additionally, it has automated podcars that are capable of taxiing passengers around. Wind tower in Masdar City, which helps cool the surrounding plaza by up to 5 degrees Celsius. A falcon enjoying a meal at the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital – the first and largest hospital in the world dedicated to falcons (Emiratis love and take very seriously their traditional hunting and falconry). Saluki dogs, which are also used for hunting, at the Arabian Saluki Center, which is adjacent to the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital. First oil samples taken in U.A.E. – small beginnings. Traditional dance at the 2013 Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (ADIHEX). Giraffe in Emirates Park Zoo in Abu Dhabi. Taking a break from kayaking in Eastern Mangrove National Park. Ferrari pit crew preparing one of their vehicles for the races the next day at the 2013 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Yas Marina at night. Porsche 911 race on the last day of the 2013 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. One of the F-series races at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Racecars attempting to navigate a sharp turn at the Yas Marina Circuit. Final Formula One race at the 2013 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Camels lined up at the start of a race at Camel Race Track 1 in Abu Dhabi; due to abusive incidents in the past, official camel races in U.A.E. now use robotic jockeys that are controlled by someone in a car that follows alongside the race. Camel race with all the cars following alongside the track to remote control the robotic jockeys – as you can imagine, this causes a number of fender benders. Camels crossing the finish line at Camel Race Track 1. Close-up of one of the camels and its robotic jockey. One of the race cars competing in the Gulf 12 Hours endurance race at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi. Watching the Gulf 12 Hours race through the tall grass. Camels participating in the camel beauty pageant at the Al Dhafra Festival in Liwa. Camel with dreamy eyes competing in the camel beauty pageant at the Al Dhafra Festival in Liwa. Racing camels at the Al Dhafra Festival in Liwa. Red Bull Air Race in Abu Dhabi; this location was the first of eight races that occurred in the 2014 Red Bull Air Race World Championship. Small air show at the end of the 2014 Abu Dhabi Red Bull Air Race.