Introduction

These are a collection of photos from the Al Gharbia Region (Western Region) of Abu Dhabi. For work and pleasure, I've made numerous trips into the Al Gharbia Region, to see the sand dunes, to go jogging in Mirfa, to spend some time in Delma, or for work - part of the urban and regional planning efforts of the UPC.

Notes: A handful of these pictures are from friends and colleagues. Please wait for the Flash to fully load; some music and large pictures takes a bit of time. To go back to the picture menu, click here.

Ghayahi

The built form in Ghayathi is poor, but I really see a lot of potential for a main-street concept for the town. Its structure is in the form of a long strip, and if you use a little imagination, you could see this being a really great place. Of course it currently has huge street cross sections (like 200 feet wide streets and utility strips between houses - ouch). Ghayathi means to quench someone's thirst, and it was built around a well that locals traditionally gathered at. Nearby Bidi Muthawa is a 'dead end' town, deep in the desert, but with strikingly nice buildings and a little bit of agriculture. Ghayathi is pronounced sort of like: 'Ghrray-ah-thii' with an impossible rolled -R- sound.