"Oh that the desert were my dwelling place,

With only one fair spirit for my minster.

That I might forget the human race,

And hating no one, love her only."

- Lord Byron

These views of the desert are what you will see on the regular 'desert safari' in Dubai

UAE at the Olympics

On the eve of the 2008 Olympics, its only apt that we discuss the hopes and aspirations of UAE at Beijing.

UAE is a relatively recent entrant into the Olympic arena having participated for the first time at the 1984 Summer Olympics at Los Angeles. But since than it's athletes have made their mark with the first gold medal claimed within 20 years at the Athens Olympics.

When Shaikh Ahmad Al Maktoum won the gold medal in the Men's Double Trap event, it was a turning point in the history of sports in the country.

As UAE's sporting warriors embark upon yet another journey at Beijing, the residents wait in hope of a scintillating performance (and at least another medal)

Here is a list of UAE's medal hopefuls:

Shaikha Maitha Bint Mohammad Bin Rashid

Shaikha Maitha Bint Mohammad Bin Rashid will be leading the team as the flag bearer at the opening ceremony. The captain of UAE's national ladies team in martial arts will compete for victory in the 67 kgs taekwondo category. A versatile exponent of martial arts, she won the silver medal in karate in the 2006 Asian Games

Shaikh Ahmed Al Maktoum

Shaikh Ahmed will be back at the Olympics to defend the gold medal he won 4 years back. “Any time I have gone out, I have felt it is my duty and responsibility to add something new to my life and bring glory and honour to my country,” said Shaikh Ahmad in Gulf News (www.gulfnews.com)

Sheikh Saeed bin Maktoum Al-Maktoum

Sheikh Saeed bin Maktoum Al-Maktoum will be participating in the Olympics for the third time after making his debut at the Sydney in 2000. He won the gold at the 2006 Asian shooting Championships in 2003 and silver at the Doha Asian Games in 2006

A bounty of 1 million dirhams awaits a gold medalist at the Beijing Olympics.... and pride and glory for all of UAE

This will probably the only post without photos!!

He then took the remaining material and shaped it into a date palm

Legend has it that after God had created man from the earth, he took the remaining material and shaped it into a date palm and placed it in the Garden of Paradise.

The Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera) is a palm that is cultivated all over the gulf for its fruit. These trees are believed to have originated in the Persian Gulf and have been cultivated ever since ancient times, from Mesopotamia to prehistoric Egypt.

The date palm tree is extremely popular for its fruit and is known to have several hundred other uses including lumber, mattresses, rope and baskets.

The date palm trees are popular across the city of Dubai and also seen extensively across the desert areas on the outskirts.

The local emaratis are very passionate about their date heritage. One local, Mohammad Atiq Al Hamili recently purchased 810 baskets of dates for $273,000 at the recently concluded Fourth Liwa Dates Festival.