In 2009, Abu Dhabi was chosen to host the headquarters of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). It is to be located in Masdar City, which aims to be the first city in the world to run entirely on solar and other types of renewable energy, to achieve a sustainable zero-carbon and zero-waste ecology. The…
Entering the emirate of Abu Dhabi, one is greeted by the truly majestic and breath-taking mosque of Sheikh Zayed, widely considered to be one of the most beautiful mosques in the world. Visiting the mosque made me understand why. Not only is the architecture a masterpiece, it is also a truly spiritual place. The architecture…
Tourism is a vital pillar of the Egyptian economy. Hisham Zaazou, senior assistant to Egypt’s minister of tourism, pointed out the sector’s “exponential expansion“ since 1982. According to Zaazou, the number of tourists visiting Egypt jumped from 1.4 million in 1982 to 12.5 million in 2009. Revenue totals rose from US$300 million in 1982 to…
Abu Dhabi–Monday saw the launch of the World Green Tourism conference in Abu Dhabi, a three-day event seen as the first global event in the Arabian Gulf devoted to the development of–and investment in–sustainable tourism. The conference aims to bring together key regional and international players in the industry–including tourism authorities and associations, city planners, hotels and…
Hoda Baraka 