Abu Dhabi Mina

Last weekend I went to Abu Dhabi and I went to the Mina area with some friends. I remember this place from many years ago. It was a small, sandy strip of land by the creek where people would go to just sit and relax. You could get some tea from the cafeteria, park your car in front of the ocean and sip in tranquility.

The new Mina is totally different. It’s been expanded and paved up and a whole new road leads towards it. I don’t know if this place existed before and they just dusted it up and opened it for the public, but it’s pretty huge. I went there after midnight and the place was bustling with people. It’s like a mini runway with street lights through the middle and the cars are parked all around the edges. It’s hard to find a good spot to park your car. People are sitting on canvas mats and portable chairs, smoking shisha, talking, laughing and just enjoying the chilly night. Many nationals were folk dancing in their kandoorahs to the local music playing on their car stereos.

A few meters away from here is another little strip of land which is identical to this one, except that there is a long line of old, decrepit wooden boats and dhows lying in the center, a picture of which is seen below. Many have broken rudders or shattered decks. Others have cracked masts or the whole body just cut in half. It’s a boats graveyard. The once proud warriors that braved the rough seas are now too old and weak to stay afloat. Looking at them under the yellow hue of the street lamps, they looked magnificent, yet at the same time they emanated a feeling of sorrow for their collapse.

It was an interesting and peaceful 1 ½ hour spent in Mina. Maybe you guys should check it out too if you haven’t yet already.