Mohamed Dekkak, Chairman and Founder of UAE based company Adgeco Group is a Moroccan national who found his career calling in the Middle East. On one of his return trip back home, he was able to meet Chef Moha and Chef Meriem, two of Morocco’s renowned culinary experts who are among the judges of one of the world’s favorite cooking franchise show, MasterChef.

MasterChef

MasterChef is a competitive cooking television show which comes from the UK and first aired in July 1990. In February 2005, the show’s format was renewed and restructured for the BBC and eventually made its first international adaptation known as MasterChef Australia, where it started in 2009.

MasterChef Morocco also got an immense following. The initial season of the country’s Masterchef where it first aired on October 7, 2014, encouraged people of all ages and from all walks of life to compete in trying to become Morocco’s best amateur cook. It was a huge national competition which likely to has topped all records.

The program has round up a few of the best chefs in the Kingdom such as Chef Khadija Bensdira, Chef Moha, Chef Meriem Ettahri and Chef Ramzi El Bouab as members of the jury. They will accompany aspiring participants in a series of challenges which are usually under the pressure of time.

In the last season, all the fifteen candidates acquired during the show from the master coaching and opinion of the 4 judge members. All the aspirants have presented incredible abilities and techniques all through the competition. The first season’s winner was the very gifted 30-year-old Halima.

It can be considered that Masterchef Morocco came out as a huge success in 2M TV’s history. As stated by the HuffPost Maghreb, the finale’s episode has been viewed by almost 5.5 millions of viewers. In effect, advertising proceeds were considered one of the most rewarding in the 2M channel’s broadcasting history.

Based on varied social media platforms’ dialogues and commentaries, most of the Moroccan viewers’ consent that the premiere season of Masterchef Morocco has lived up to their anticipations. Some claimed that it was remarkably valuable.

Chef Moha

Before flourishing to become one of Morocco’s most famous chefs, the native of the city of Marrakech began his professional career in Switzerland wherein he went to learn to cook and lived there for fourteen years, collecting experience in global cuisine together with his mastery of Moroccan traditional dishes. As stated by Chef Moha, “The Moroccan cuisine has always been known for being rich and of great qualities, which makes it very competitive on the international level”. Master Chef Morocco, which has been aired on the national TV station 2M, introduced him to a larger audience.

The first to reinvent Moroccan cuisine, Chef Moha’s Dar Moha has risen fast through the ranks of premium restaurants in Morocco and today Moha is one of the most sought after chefs. Another thing that makes Chef Moha stand out is his insights and passion for making sure that Moroccan cuisine is recognized as part of the World Cultural Heritage. In chasing his goal, Chef Moha has been made an ambassador for Moroccan gastronomy due to his partaking in different global happenings.

Chef Meriem

The youngest girl in a conservative family in Casablanca could never have imagined a culinary career, which is why it took her time to decide to transform her love for cooking into a life project. In her baccalaureate, she left Morocco to enroll in Mc Gill University in Canada. Meriam Ettahri is predestined for a career in business and found a job in events wherein she organizes conferences for the defense industry. This experience made her love the work for she even considered a career in the military career.

Her love for food resurfaced when she transferred jobs and collaborated with agri-food companies in her new position as a head hunter. Realizing her taste and interest in the products, her co-workers encouraged her to do train for professional cooking. She then decided to apply in an internationally recognized culinary school, Le Cordon Bleu.

Moroccan Cuisine

One of the best-known food in the world, Moroccan cuisine is rich with delicate spices and fascinating flavor combinations.

Moroccan cuisine is influenced by the Kingdom’s relations and interactions with other countries and cultures throughout the centuries. Moroccan cuisine is commonly a blend of Arabic, Berber, Andalusian, and Mediterranean cuisines with a little of Europe and sub-Saharan influences.

Imagine tart green olives put together with sliced preserved lemon rind swirled in a tagine of tender chicken. Be surprised with a plate of intense pigeon meat pie sprinkled with cinnamon and icing sugar. Think of sardines coated with rich combination of parsley, coriander, cumin and a hint of chili. Highly influenced by Arabia, Andalusian Spain, and France, the Kingdom of Morocco’s cuisine is a hearty blend of delectable flavors that make it distinct.

The Eiffel Tower

If you visit Paris, you will not be able to miss the Eiffel Tower. The true symbol of Paris from its height of 324 meters, it continues to attract visitors and especially foreigners. Located in the 7th arrondissement of Paris, it represents the French technical know-how since 1889.

The Eiffel Tower is a tower in iron located on the Champ de Mars in Paris in France. It owes its name to the engineer Gustave Eiffel, who is the creator. It was inaugurated on March 31st, 1889, during the Universal Exhibition which took place in Paris that year. Its height is 324 meters, counting the antennas arranged at its summit.

Initially, the Eiffel Tower was to be destroyed after the Exhibition. Its number of visitors decreased a lot after 1889, and the drop in ticket prices did not change anything. Gustave Eiffel, knowing full well that his tower was in danger, took the initiative to use it to conduct scientific experiments, especially in meteorology. Then, the engineer installed an antenna for wireless telegraphy at the top of the tower. By proving the scientific interest of the Eiffel Tower, it discourages the authorities to order its destruction. The Eiffel Tower became again an important tourist site with the appearance of the mass tourism, in the years 1960.

The Eiffel tower weighs only 10 100  t, which is incredibly light: if one imagines a vertical cylinder able to surround the tower, then the aircontained in the cylinder is heavier than the tower! In other words, at 0 ℃ and at normal pressure, an empty cylinder capable of surrounding the Eiffel Tower would be able to lift it (see Archimedes’ thrust).

The metal frame of the Eiffel Tower comprises 18,038 prefabricated metal parts, assembled by means of 2,500,000 rivets. The main work to mount the tower was to put the rivets. To evaluate the progress of the work, Gustave Eiffel noted every day the total rivets posed during the day.

The Eiffel Tower is considered the symbol of Paris and France. It is the most visited paying monument in the world, with nearly 7 million visitors each year.

The concept of Eiffel Tower:

In the early 1880s, we think of a World Fair to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution (July 14, 1789). One of the engineers at the Eiffel Tower is Gustave Eiffel. Inspired by models of Eiffel viaducts, Maurice Koechlin had the idea of a tower of 300 meters (because 300 meters are 1,000 feet). The project has evolved a lot. At one time, to “beautify” (?) This tower, this unique pylon, one had to build at its base a very dome-shaped structure very flattened. Stéphane Sauvrestrehad also imagined to add two small side towers. On the foreground of the Eiffel Tower, it looks like a viaduct frame. Stéphane Sauvrestre will finally give him his final form.

Engineers of the Eiffel Tower

Gustave Eiffel: Engineer / entrepreneur

Maurice Koechlin  : Engineer

Émile Nouguier  : Engineer

Stéphane Sauvrestre  : Architect

Bryan Runembert  : Engineer / Contractor

Wind action 

The wind makes the tower swing slightly. According to the official website of the Eiffel Tower 1, wind gusts of 214 km / h were recorded at the top of the Eiffel Tower during the violent storm that shook Paris on December 26, 1999, and the maximum amplitude was of 9 cm.

On the sunny side, under the action of heat, the iron expands and tilts (very slightly) the tower on the other side. It is said that the top of the tower “flees” the sun.

Tower Lighting 

At its inception, the Eiffel Tower was lit by lamps to gas. It will be necessary to wait until 1900, so that they are replaced by 5,000 light bulbs. These facilities continue to evolve with technical progress.

On December 31, 1999, a flicker was set up for the year 2000. It was supposed to be temporary but it stayed. Every hour, between dusk and 1am, the Tower flickers for 5 minutes. On that same day, the lighthouse was changed. A rotating beacon indeed projects light from the top of the tower. Its light is visible up to 80 kilometers.

In 2008, to celebrate the European Union, the Eiffel Tower is illuminated with 12 stars on a blue background, in connection with the flag of the EU Since then, a new lighting is done from inside the Tower: a real flicker. It lights up every day at nightfall of all colors.

The Eiffel Tower has been repainted 17 times since its construction, approximately once every 7 years. It takes 500,000 pounds of paint to repaint it entirely. This work mobilizes 25 painters for 18 months.

The history of the Eiffel Tower

The “Iron Lady” nicknamed by some, was originally built to represent the technical expertise of France at the Universal Exhibition from May 5 to October 31, 1889. It took 5 to build the Eiffel Tower from its conception to its final presentation. The Eiffel Tower has put at work nearly 250 workers spread over 3 floors. At a height of 312 meters, it was the tallest building in the world until 1930 before the construction of the Chrysler Building in New York (319 meters).

The Eiffel Tower was to last only 20 years then be demolished, finally, the scientific experiments and the broadcasting saved it and make it today the jewel of the French architecture throughout the world.

The reputation of the Eiffel Tower

What makes today the success of the Eiffel Tower is its view and its setting. More than 7 million tourists visit the Eiffel Tower each year. Of these, about 75% are foreign tourists. Since the Exposition Universelle in 1889, the Eiffel Tower has welcomed more than 250 million visitors.

Located on the edge of the Seine and the Champ de Mars, it offers its visitors a pleasant and soothing, but above all a panoramic view of all Paris. It is the 4th most visited monument in France (7.1 million visitors in 2014). Imitated but never equaled, there are many towers inspired by the Eiffel Tower, but it is indeed the latter that seduces most tourists.

The bridge of Bir-Hakeim

The bridge of Bir-Hakeim, formerly bridge of Passy, is a Parisian bridge crossing the Seine between the 15^th and the 16^th district, whose first version dates from 1878. The Pont de Bir-Hakeim is a bridge in Paris that crosses the Seine in the luxurious district of Passy. In particular, it connects the avenue du Président-Kennedy, on the right bank of the Seine, in the district of the Muette, to the Quai Branly and de Grenelle on the left bank, in the district of Grenelle. It takes its name from the battle of Bir Hacheim, fought in North Africa during the Second World War. From 10 July 1986 it is registered in the register of historical monuments of France.

Located in the lower part of the Eiffel Tower, the first floor of the car, bicycle, and pedestrian crossing, the second floor of the subway pass with this pleasantly designed bridge was made in 1905. At that time his name was Viaduc de Passy. In 1942, the bridge was named Pont de Bir-Hakeim in the memory of the Bir-Hakeim War against the Germans and Italians in Libya.

“Bir Hakeim” means both a small water point abandoned at the edge of the Libyan Desert, about fifty kilometers from the Mediterranean and a French victory. This complicated victory was one of the first in North Africa and had a considerable impact on the morale of the French to the point that several groups of maquisards then took the name in tribute to the battle.

The Bir Hakeim bridge on two levels

The Bir-Hakeim Bridge was built in 1905 by Daydé and Pillé, under the direction of Louis Biette. Two levels, thus cross the Seine while passing on the upstream tip of the Swan Island:

At the top: for the metro, perfectly flat

In low: for cars and pedestrians, gradual descent from the right bank to the left bank.

This bridge is metallic throughout its length, except for a stone arch on the level of Swan Island and pillars on each side of the banks.

The Passy footbridge, the first bridge on the premises

For the 1878 World Fair, a first metal bridge was built on the site: the Passy footbridge.

It was finally abolished at the beginning of the 20th century, to allow the construction of the Bir-Hakeim bridge and its viaduct for the metro.

The statues of Bir Hakeim bridge

The Bir-Hakeim bridge is richly decorated with statues on:

The stone arch: you will find upstream Science and Work by Jules Coutan and downstream Electricity and Trade by Jean Antoine Injalbeert

The piles, reproduced upstream and downstream, on each passage of the arms of the Seine, a group of Gustave Michel: the Nautes and the blacksmiths riveurs

The tip of the island, the renaissance Holger Wederkinch France, donated by the Danish in 1930.

Origin of the Name

It is named after the strategic point in the Libyan Desert, called Bir Hakeim, where the Free French Forces defended a heroic defense against German troops in a battle in June 1942.

History 

The memory of the first major victory of the Free French Forces: the battle of Bir Hakeim

The first half of 1942 was marked by the advance of the troops of General Rommel’s Afrika Corps in northern Africa. Germans and Italians progress, routing the British. However, to get to Egypt and seize the Suez Canal, they must travel through Libya.

There, in the desert, south of Tobruk, they meet the first brigade of the Free French Forces, under the command of General Koening. For 15 days, the French resist! For 15 days, they hold their position on a small hill that no vegetation covers! Enough indeed to allow the British to retreat. Between May 26 and June 11, 1942.

Finally, the night of June 10 to 11, finally, the French leave the scene by surprise, to go protect themselves. This is the first real achievement of Free France. Passage obliged for its recognition by the Allies.

The battle of Bir Hakeim

At the end of May 1942, the first brigade of the Free French Forces occupies the southern part of the British 8th Army in Libya against the German-Italian Axis forces. This position is of considerable importance since it is capable of preventing any encirclement by the South of the Allied Forces in a disorderly retreat after the defeat and Tobruk Falls, which opens the way to Cairo for German tanks.

On May 27, 1942, the position of Bir Hakeim, attacked by the Italian armored division “Ariete”, supports a fierce fight to the inside of the strong point. The enemy, repulsed, leaves forty tanks on the ground.

From the 1st to the 10th of June, the position, methodically harassed, is completely encircled by German and Italian forces, in overwhelming numerical superiority. General Rommel, commander of the enemy forces is trying to blow up this lock. At the ultimatum demanding a surrender, General Kœnig, commander of the French brigade, will answer: “We are not here to surrender.”

Despite the most violent artillery fire and aerial bombardment, the Brigade repels all assaults, does not yield an inch of ground,

The incredible audacity of a group of volunteers of the Train succeeds, at night, to make penetrate in the position a convoy of thirty trucks. On June 10, however, all water resources, food, and ammunition are on the verge of exhaustion. The garrison receives orders from the commander of the British 8th Army to retreat. During the night of the 10th to the 11th, she made her way through the enemy lines and the minefields, bringing back her wounded and the equipment still usable.

By its prolonged resistance beyond all hope and whose global repercussion was immense, the 1st Free French Brigade allowed the 8th British Army to disengage itself and find the time necessary for the recovery of the situation, in El Alamein. To the French, then under German oppression, she confirmed their faith in their destinies and in the victory. The Résistance intérieure that of Jean Moulin and Christian Pineau, joined Free France to make only one fighting France.

The Cemetery, erected on the very site of the fighting, was kept “In Memoriam”. A track leads there, marked out by Croix de Lorraine, from El Adem.
Because of its isolation, the 182 bodies that it contained were transferred to this place, where also rest the first four French soldiers fallen in Cyrenaica, on January 21, 1941, and the six dead of the operation of Koufra led by General Leclerc.

Sightseers’ biggest questions when talking about Louvre are: When to visit as well as how to get inside fast? Why not attempt a late afternoon or evening trip on Wed or Friday, the time the museum is open until 9:45PM?

On the off chance that you extend each of the 3 sections into a direct line, the museum would extend an incredible fourteen kilometers long. In any case, 80 percent of guests simply come to snap a picture of the Mona Lisa then after that leave. There’s a lot more to explore! Built in 1190, the previous royal residence is enormous, yet magnificent.

10 Artworks You Should See in Louvre Museum

Check out these ten masterpieces that you should see on your journey to the Louvre.

1. Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa

It is ostensibly the most acclaimed painting on the planet, due in expansive part to the hubbub that happened on in 1911 when the Mona Lisa painting was stolen. Disappearing for a long time, both French writer Apollinaire & Picasso were the accused, before Peruggia, an Italian criminal and previous Louver security was captured. In 1516, at the point when enlisted by François I, Leonardo conveyed his prized painting with him to Château d’Amboise wherein he passed away after three years.

2. Gabrielle d’Estrées and Her Sister, The Duchess of Villars (1594)

An unknown painting from the School of Fontainebleau, these well known women are Gabrielle d’éstrées (a most loved admirer of Henri IV) and her sister, the Duchess of Villars. The way that her sister is squeezing Gabrielle’s areola has frequently been taken as symbolizing the her pregnancy with the ill-conceived offspring of Henri IV (Cesar de Vendome). This elucidation is affirmed by the foundation scene of the young lady sewing – maybe setting up a layette for the coming baby. There are both of Italian and Flemish background, thus the closeness of the foundation.

3. Michelangelo’s Dying Slave

Michelangelo’s Dying Slave was intended for the tomb of Pope Julius II, at first authorized in 1505 and finished on very diminished scale in 1545. The squirming, bending Slave is unmistakably in anguish, positioned in Contrapposto (the figure stands on one leg which carries his weight while the other leg is rested. This position prompts the shoulders and hips to rest at inverse edges). This traditional posture definitely gives a bend to the whole middle. Would you be able to endure in Contrapposto?

4. Winged Victory of Samothrace

The dramatic statue oversees the museum’s Daru stairs much as she’s roosted on the front of a ship (the dim marble suggests the ship’s from Rhodes). The statue’s Hellenistic frame justifies her spot as one of the Louvre’s main three most critical pieces. No creative energy is important to see the breeze blowing her stick wrap thin dress or to feel the intensity of her frontward movement and beyond any doubt footedness. Intended to be seen from one edge, take note of how the model’s generally cut on the left. Amid World War II she was emptied with the Mona Lisa, Michelangelo’s Slaves and Venus de Milo to Château de Valençay.

5. Venus de Milo

The woman who we as a whole see as the Venus de Milo may have probably been an Amphitrite, who the island of Melos (presently Milos) revered. History experts on arts trust that she is a 100 BC reproduction, but she has common fifth Century BC subtleties, for example, the amicability of her face, her reserved quality and impassivity. In any case, numerous subtleties put her in the Hellenistic time frame (3rd– first C BC, for example, her winding piece, the way that she’s 3D, her little bosoms and prolonged body and in particular the thin facade of material hung around her hips.

6. The Great Sphinx of Tanis

The Egyptian term for a sphinx was Shesep-Ankh, or “Living Image”, an emblematic portrayal of the cozy connection between sun god (lion’s body) and ruler (human head). The  figure was engraved with the names of the pharaohs Merneptah, Ammenemes II, and Shoshenq. Uncovered in 1825 along with vestiges of the Temple of Amun at Tanis, it is among the biggest sphinxes beyond Egypt’s border.

7. Botticelli’s Venus with Three Graces (1483-1486)

A technique for painting shades of water based on newly applied plaster to let the hues dry in the wall so it becomes permanent is called Fresco painting. Botticelli smeared this fresco on the Tuscan Villa Lemmi’s walls alongside different pieces in this room. Do not forget Luini’s Adoration of the Magis close-by. Abstain from getting trampled by the majority who are originating from Nike of Samothrace and settle yourself in the corner to truly appreciate this masterpiece.

8. Eugène Delacroix’s Liberty Leading the People

Lady Liberté (Marianne) raises the Tri-hued French banner (the red, white and blue symbolizing Liberty, Equality & Fraternity). Truth be told this composition epitomizes France to such a degree, to the point that it was the substance of the one hundred Franc (before the Euro went into dissemination in 2002 the money of France was known as the “Franc”. Marianne is the national persona that represents the French Republic’s triumph over the government, and accordingly she shows up wherever from little stamps & euro coins to a larger than average statue that oversees Place de la Republique.

9. Lamassus (713 BC), Mesopotamia

These defensive genies have 5 legs which from the side seem just as four strolling, from the front they are still and in attention stand where sets of these “Lamassus” monitored each entryway to Sargon II’s Mesopotamian capital (at present-day Khorsabad). The city had twenty-four meter thick walls (the stature of a redwood tree!). In the nineteenth century when the French council was sending these Lamassus back to the museum two shocking delivery “occurrences” made a great part of the excavation disappear: one through a vessel sinking, another gone to pirates.

10. Law Code of Hammurabi

Hammurabi’s Law Code is the lengthiest enduring content from the Old Babylon and is commonly viewed as the primary composed economic formula. Numerous laws are still being used, for example, loan fees, fines for fiscal bad behavior, legacy laws which concerns the way the private properties are being tax or isolated. It’s additionally one of the most early instances of the possibility of assumption of blamelessness, asking for that both the denounced and informer give proof to make their cases. It’s most well known for its scaled disciplines, modifying “tit for tat, a tooth for a tooth” as evaluated relying upon economic wellbeing (of slave vs free man).

To highlight the UAE as a global capital for acceptance by means of the country’s administrative goals, as well as to solidify the nation’s role to promote progress and stability in the region, the President, Sheikh Khalifa, has officially declared 2019 as the Year of Tolerance.

The Ruler stated that in practice the importance of peace, tolerance, and co-existence in local, regional and international communities, the nation continues to carry on the teachings and legacy of Sheikh Zayed. Further saying that it’s among the most significant elements that it can impact on the citizens and the international community to ensure the safety, stability, and happiness of peoples across the world.”

Echoing these thoughts, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, VP and Ruler of Dubai, shares in social media: “Dear brothers and sisters, the President… has issued a directive to announce 2019 as the Year of Tolerance in the UAE, with the aim of solidifying the international role that the country plays as the capital of co-existence and meeting of civilizations.

Sheikh Mohammed believes that the foundation of a progressive society, one that is intellectual and humane and is a powerful tool that empowers civilizations and ensures the stability of a booming nation is tolerance.

He was also quoted saying that come this 2019, UAE will endeavor to present this value and direct the media, intellectual, and research production movements to reiterate this value in the region.

Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, stated that the world presently needs universal human values to be advocated for the benefit of the next generations.

The Year of Tolerance was announced to be an extension of the Year of Zayed since it sustains the values of co-existence that Sheikh Zayed, the Founding Father, formed amongst UAE’s general public.

Brief History of Tolerance in UAE

HH Sheikh Khalifa, in July 2015 has issued the Federal Decree Law No. 02 of 2015 about Combating Discrimination & Hatred. The decree seeks to protect all the people in the UAE, by means of a strong legislative ground for the environment of co-existence, tolerance, and acceptance. Its objective is to condemn discrimination against a person or groups based on social status, religion, principle, race, color or ethnic origin.

The UAE Cabinet presented the first post of the Minister of State for Tolerance in 2016. In the same year, the National Tolerance Program was launched in order to boost the values of tolerance and co-existence and to disallow manners of discrimination and hate. The country also launched various centers to counter extremism, including the Hedayah Centre, Int’l. Institute for Tolerance, and Sawab Centre.

The United Arab Emirates was also acknowledged for its programs and initiatives and in promoting tolerance to counter terrorism and extremism in global indices. In 2016, the country was awarded the top position in the region and 3^rd worldwide in the Tolerance Index of the 2016 Yearbook published by the Int’l. Institute for Mgt. Dev’t, in Switzerland.

Must read: Simply way to promote peace 

The Seven Pillars of Tolerance

The Year of Tolerance will focus on seven main pillars. The first pillar is Tolerance in Community. This seeks to foster the values of tolerance within the family and extends to various cultures which activate the role of UAE Community centers throughout the nation in promoting a unified society.

The second pillar tackles Tolerance in Education. The goal of this is to strengthen the teachings behind the importance of tolerance in the educational system – throughout schools and universities in the country.

The third pillar is Tolerance in the Workplace. How to create a safe and united workplace in the private and public sector, institutions and organizations that provide equal opportunity for everyone.

The fourth pillar talks about Tolerance and Culture where it targets to promote a cultural tolerance by setting up a variety of events and programs that celebrate over two hundred nationalities that reside in the UAE and enhance the interaction through arts and culture.

The fifth pillar focus on UAE Model of Tolerance where it aims to fortify the country as an international capital for tolerance through strings of projects and initiative that specializes in tolerance and communication amongst different cultures and civilizations.

The sixth pillar is about Tolerance in Legislation where it sees the Supreme Nat’l. Committee for Tolerance work on forming policies, legislation and exec. regulations that guarantee the sustainability of lessons and values that include a law on multiculturalism.

The seventh and last pillar is Tolerance in the Media. Recognizing the power of media in disseminating tolerance and the value of co-existence by means of targeted media campaigns while promoting the UAE Model of Tolerance throughout social media platforms and channels.

Pope Francis Visit to UAE 

When the United Arab Emirates established ties with the Vatican 12 years ago, nobody could tell how the relationship would develop. Efforts in the past to unite the people of Christianity and Islam presented some challenges, but this papal visit could bring about a discovery of the common history that unites people of good faith.

This is the first visit by a Catholic Pope to the Arabian Peninsula, the birthplace of Islam, and one cannot think of a better country than the UAE for this reception and celebration of unity.

The visit by Pope Francis to the UAE is a passage which offers a promise of the new beginning, wherein nationalities participate in dialogue, learn to accept each other and welcome the differences, and celebrate diversity.

On February 3, 2019, Pope Francis, the head of Roman Catholic Church will travel to Abu Dhabi to build bridges between people of the largest cultures and religions in the world and history will be made.

The following day, he will be received by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, prior to attending a private meeting of the Muslim Council of Elders at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and the interfaith Global Meeting of Human Fraternity at the Founder’s Memorial.

Pope Francis will deliver a public Mass at Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday morning at 10.30am, an occasion millions of Catholics in the UAE have been eagerly anticipating. Thousands of specially arranged buses will be taking people for the mass on Tuesday, where there will be no official parking.

The pontiff openly talks of differences, a first for a pope who practices a fearless papal pursuit to resolve those differences. His dialogue with Islam has brought criticism from theological conservatives but he has carried on. Pope Francis is not afraid to speak out in defense of Islam, nor is he afraid to defend the minority status of Christians in the Middle East.

Pope Francis’s momentous journey to the region embodies the UAE’s Year of Tolerance and has given a chance to reflect on its concept.

The United Arab Emirates is a nation believing in the power of reconciliation, one that is not afraid to dream of a tolerant future.

Upcoming 2019 Events

This year, the United Arab Emirates declared it will be a global coordinator for cooperation within a new Global Tolerance Alliance to encourage acceptance around the world.

An agreement on tolerance was signed by dignitaries from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Switzerland, and the United States – and also the Higher Colleges of Technology, Emirates Human Rights Association, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

Tolerance-themed events and publications will take place all through 2019.

The declaration of 2019 as the Year of Tolerance was done days after it was announced that Pope Francis will visit Abu Dhabi in February, a significant signal that the United Arab Emirates is welcoming and tolerant of all religions.

The Special Olympic World Games, which will take place on 14-21 of March in the capital city are also anticipated to strongly focus in a year-long series of events promoting tolerance.

It is going to be the first time that the Games will be assembled in the Middle East and North Africa region. It is estimated to draw in over 7,500 athletes coming from across the globe and a projected 500,000 audiences.

The athletes are going to compete in a range of events at eleven sited in Abu Dhabi such as the National Exhibition Centre, New York University Abu Dhabi, Zayed Sports City, Armed Forces Officers Club, the Yas Marina Circuit, Khalifa International Bowling Centre as well as the Abu Dhabi Yacht and Sailing Club.

Brief History of Tolerance in UAE

HH Sheikh Khalifa, in July 2015 has issued the Federal Decree Law No. 02 of 2015 about Combating Discrimination & Hatred. The decree seeks to protect all the people in the UAE, by means of a strong legislative ground for the environment of co-existence, tolerance, and acceptance. Its objective is to condemn discrimination against a person or groups based on social status, religion, principle, race, color or ethnic origin.

The UAE Cabinet presented the first post of the Minister of State for Tolerance in 2016. In the same year, the National Tolerance Program was launched in order to boost the values of tolerance and co-existence and to disallow manners of discrimination and hate. The country also launched various centers to counter extremism, including the Hedayah Centre, Int’l. Institute for Tolerance, and Sawab Centre.

The United Arab Emirates was also acknowledged for its programs and initiatives and in promoting tolerance to counter terrorism and extremism in global indices. In 2016, the country was awarded the top position in the region and 3^rd worldwide in the Tolerance Index of the 2016 Yearbook published by the Int’l. Institute for Mgt. Dev’t, in Switzerland.

Background history of Ibn Battuta

Ever heard about Ibn Battuta? Oh, wait! You definitely should have heard about him: one of the greatest travelers that lived on earth. During his time on earth, he lived as an Islamic scholar with a difference, whose love for adventure was something indescribable. As much as the scholar lived an exemplary life in character and in the way he dealt with the people he met and lived with, so has his adventurous life also been a case of study that has made headlines in many magazines and journals, even many years after his death. For this article, we will be looking a bit into his personal life story, which is one of the most interesting to ever graze the earth, as well as picking some of his most important travels and talking about their highlights and significance to his overall life’s mission.

To complete grabs of his adventure, we will try to outline the events following each of his journey in a clear and vivid manner, and using easily understandable words to illustrate the events leading up to the journeys and part of what happened after each.

Ibn e Battuta‘s had his first journey in 1325 at the age of 20 years. He embarked on his first trip with a sole and unquenchable intention to fulfill one of the biggest pillars of Islam, “Hajj”, or a pilgrimage to Mecca. It was the events that followed this intention that added up to make him and the intention as popular as they’ve become today. It is on record that the highly regarded scholar traveled on for a total period of 29 years. During that period, he covered an incredible mark of 75,000 miles, covering over 44 countries. They were as at that time mostly the world’s greatest and most popular places been governed by Muslim Scholars/Leaders of “Dar al-Islam”.

The numerous journeys of Ibn Battuta are not without stories of the dangers he met and overcome. Some of the most popular dangers that have been told about were attacks on him by bandits, a ship that almost drowned with him onboard, and his near beheading by a tyrant leader. He got married a few times in some of the places he visited to and of course had many children throughout his traveling days.

At a time, when he was old and nearing the end of his life, the King of Morocco decided to hear the complete travel stories of Ibn Battuta and get it documented. Thanks to that move, we now have different translations of the account available to us. The original title name of the researched book was: “Tuhfat al-anzar fi gharaaib al-amsar wa ajaaib al-asfar”, or “A reward to the people who Intend the Miracles of worlds and the Wonders of the journey”.

With such a long title, a lot of people have generally to call it “The Journeys of Ibn Battuta” or “Ibn Battuta’s Rihla”.

Ibn Battuta Travels to the Red Sea and East Africa

Ibn Battuta came to Mecca and lived there for about a year, dedicating himself to the study of Islamic precepts. After staying for about a year in Mecca, the great scholar along with other pilgrims moved to Jidda on the Red Sea Coast. History has it that he and his co-travelers made this journey crammed onto a small ship was known as dhows. According to accounts of the travels of the scholar, the sail was not a too pleasant one. Of course, The Red Sea has never been one that’s easy to navigate, especially being characterized with a lot of rocks and coral reefs just under the waterline. Legends have it that during that time, pirates were regular in the sea, and they stole from wealthy travelers. The scholar’s ship faced its own share of turbulence. The first two days of the sail was calm and enjoyable, but things eventually changed and they faced a wind that drove towards them. Of course, with the wind against them, it became a serious struggle and they were driving off. Sailors became grievously ill because of the waves that entered the vessel. By this time, the lives of the travelers were in the hands of God, and He helped deliver them by pushing them to shore. Fortunately for Ibn Battuta and the other passengers, there were available camels to be rented, and they continued their journey on land.

The sea struggle didn’t end Ibn Battuta’s adventures and quest for knowledge. He did not relent; instead, he succeeded in visiting coastal cities and villages around the Yemen high mountains. During his time in Taiz, he stayed with the Sultan, and a horse was given to him before his departure.

He departed Taiz and headed down to the coastal city of Aden which served as a guard to the entrance of the Red Sea. The coastal city was popular to travelers and traders who sailed through the eastern parts of the sea, and they were often charged for tax or tariffs when they pass their goods through the port. At that time, ships popularly brought spices, iron, steel, medicinal herbs, Indian silks, cloth dyes, pearls, African Ivory, cowrie shells, Chinese potteries, and fruits.

During the lifetime of Ibn Battuta, the western half of the Indian Ocean trading centers was controlled by Muslim traders, so it was easy for the scholar to migrate from one Muslim community along the coast of Africa to the coasts of India and Southeast Asia. Of course, he was a Muslim and had the brain, so there was no limitation to the places he could visit, especially since he was a part of the international brotherhood of Islam, hence he could take advantage of the charity and hospitality of Muslims wherever he went.

From Aden, Ibn Battuta traveled through many routes down the coast of East Africa. His journey this time was blessed by favorable weather conditions and it was easy to have a smooth sail. As his ship made its way down the east coast of Africa, the scholar had his first stop in Zeila, a port in a large Muslim community in the Christian kingdom of Ethiopia. The scholar brandished Zeila with such words as “dirty” and “stinking”. The reason for the stink according to him was the quantity of fish and all the blood of camels that were butchered in its alleyways. Owing to all these, the scholar spent his nights on his ship, during his short stay there, despite the rough nature of the water.

After a short stint in Zeila, he continued southwards along with a team of mostly traders who were transporting their wares to Mogadishu, which was then the busiest and richest port in the whole of East Africa. They arrived there after a fifteen days journey. The Indian Ocean port served as a popular trading center for Arabic, Persian, Indian, and European merchants who along with their wares brought in their religion, culture, and languages to the region.

With Ibn Battuta’s status as a real scholar of Islamic religion and law, it was not difficult for the locals to welcome him. He met and feasted with important people throughout the week, before continuing his trip southwards to Zanj and then Mombasa. He moved on to the islands of Zanzibar and Pemba, before eventually arriving at Kilwa, which is a part of Tanzania today.

Sailing the Black Sea

Ibn Battuta had a lot of big and small trips throughout his life. One of the trips that we consider significant enough to be here is his sail across the black sea. After staying for more than a month and waiting for the weather to stabilize, Ibn Battuta boarded a ship with a small party with a mission to sail across the Black Sea. Prior to this time, the scholar had spent almost a month to recover, refreshing his mind with new knowledge of the Koran and of philosophy and history. According to him, that one month had again repurposed his life and set him physically and psychologically ready for his next trip. During the sail across the black sea, a severe storm had hit their ship and almost capsized it. It was so severe that at some point co-sailors thought they’ll not make it out alive, but after several days of turbulence and panic, their sail arrived the opposite coast. From here, they found their way to Kaffa, a Genoese colony with ships numbering above 200 in its harbor. Among the people living in this place where traders from Genoa, Egypt, Russia, Venice, and a lot of other places. It was a dominant Christian town, hence there was only one mosque, and as a staunch Islamic scholar who’s longing was to uphold the precepts of Islam, the settings of the town angered Ibn Battuta and his friend, but since there was almost nothing that they could do at that time to salvage the situation, they moved to a city with more Muslim population the next day.

At the ports of the black sea, the goods of the steppe were being traded, including furs, grains, timbers, salt, honey, and wax. Other goods that were traded included those that had come along from China or Persia. At that time, the trade of slaves was also popular in the region. War captives and sad children of poor parents were also traded sugar plantation farmers from Cyprus or rich buyers from Italy.

By the time Ibn Battuta visited the black seaports, they had been in the trans-regional trade networks for more than two thousand years.

Ibn Battuta and his party of co-travelers arrived al-Qiram just in time to join another 700 miles trip to the Volga River, with the king of the Golden Horde and his army being their needed protection throughout the trip.

Ibn Battuta Travels on a Mongol Caravan

It was quite easy for Ibn Battuta and his traveling party to follow the tracks of Kipchak Khan Ozberg caravan and this was largely as a result of the number of people traveling with the king. The rulers travel party was so big that it could be confused to be a big city traveling with its population. They even had markets and mosques on the move. It was even possible to spot kitchen smoke from the people that cooked on the journey. This was how big the ruler’s party was, and to the scholar and his own traveling party, it was great news, since it meant that the protection provided by the king’s men reached them too.

On this side of the world, traveling at that time was not without horse pulled wagons, although in some cases, the wagon was pulled by ox or camels.

Normally, a rich Mongol will have their caravan looking like a big town, although with few men in it. It was so big that a single girl could be leading up to 30 carts.

One act that really surprised the scholar was how the Turks had their animals loosened up and sent into the fields during stops without the need for shepherds. The confidence in which the owners did all these with was striking, but this what because the on theft was heavy. A thief proven guilty to be in possession of a stolen horse was forced to restore it with nine more, and in the event where he fails to deliver, his sons become the needed replacement

If he doesn’t have a son, he is slaughtered like an animal.

According to Ibn Battuta, the food consumed by the Turks includes millet porridge or “dugi”. They also ate boiled or roasted sheep or horse. According to the scholar’s account of his finding in this case, the Turks didn’t consume meats without their bones mixed with it. They made a special salt-water sauce, which they dipped their meat in to season it before eating. The scholar also found that the Turks considered eating sweets as a disgrace. Instead, they drank made milk and millet beer, which Ibn Battuta couldn’t take because he was a Muslim.

Travels to New Delhi

Ibn Battuta’s trip to New Delhi is one of his adventures that are worth talking about. Through the high mountains of Afghanistan, the scholar made his way onto India, following after the footsteps of Turkish warriors, who invaded and conquered the Hindu farming people of the idea a century earlier and established the Delhi Sultanate. The Muslim soldiers had invaded the land, smashing the images and structures of the Hindu gods. After conquering the city, Turks from Afghanistan were brought in to replace the local Hindu leaders. The problem, however, was that the Muslim leaders brought in to rule the small cities in Delhi were not safe, as they continued to face strong opposition from the Hindu speaking people who were the majority in India. They were however threatened with periodic Mongol invasions from the north. In fact, as at 1323, The Chagatay Khan had even invaded India and was threatening Delhi before he was chased back across the Indus River by the feisty Sultan Muhammad Tughluq.

Slowly but steadily, India was becoming remodeled, with Muslim leaders gaining more control of the country and as was expected, their sphere of influence increased rapidly. Hindus even began to convert to Islam to find jobs in the new government. Becoming Muslims had strong economic benefits, and the people recognized it.

As a strategy to strengthen the Sultans held in India, he needed more administrators, scholars, and judges to be on his side and uphold his principles. He needed poets, writers, and entertainers who will tell good things about the new leadership and help influence the people at the grass root. The Sultan found it difficult trusting the Hindus because he had a strong fear that they’ll betray and rebel against him. Instead, he recruited talents from outside the country and rewarded them bountifully with good salaries and fabulous gifts. This single gesture brought in Muslims from Persia and Turkey, who were looking to leverage the improved wages and other incentives to better their lives. Soon, the ruling elites adopted Persian as their official language. It was during this time that Ibn Battuta arrived in the country, hoping that the Sultan would offer him employment.

However, Muhammad Tughluq has always been remembered as a ruler that was violent, erratic, and eccentric. His intelligence was renowned, so it was not surprising that he learned how to Persian poetry rather quickly and soon became a master in the art of calligraphy; he was so bright that he could comfortably debate issues bordering religion and conventional laws with highly schooled scholars. He also learned to speak and read Arabic so that he could fluently read religious texts like the Koran without help or transcription from anybody. However, there were a lot of instances where he stepped too far and made decisions that proved disastrous. He was known as a cruel man who was responsible for having rebels, thieves and good Muslim scholars who disagreed with him go through the same cruel punishment of gruesome murder. It was so bad that he punished even the friends of anyone who questioned any of his policies. According to Ibn Battuta, not a week passed at that time without the Sultan spilling the blood of Muslims right before the entrance of the palace. The methods he employed to kill these people were too gruesome to be mentioned.

Records have it that in late 1334, Ibn Battuta had moved to Delhi, in search of official employment. He signed a contract with a term that stated that he would stay in India. He applied wisdom in his approach to the Sultan, assembling gifts that included arrows, horses, camels, slaves, and other goods. It was great wisdom because he knew that the Sultan would give favors and gifts worth more than all his own gifts.

On arrival, Ibn Battuta got 2,000 silver dinars set up in a house that was completely furnished as welcoming gift. Although Muhammad Tughluq was not in Delhi as at the time of the arrival of Ibn Battuta, he heard of it and hired him in the service of the state without even seeing him. His employment came with an annual salary of 5,000 silver dinars. The average Hindu family lived on an average of 5 dinars per month.

Ibn Battuta and the other newcomers would later pay a visit to the Sultan on his return to Delhi, bearing their gifts. The Sultan was pleased with the arrival of Ibn Battuta and showered him with praises and material gifts.

Ibn Battuta eventually started out working as a judge and was given two assistants to help him interpret the Persian language and to help him out with administrative functions. He also joined the Sultan a lot of times in elaborate haunting expeditions. At that time, Ibn Battuta lived an extravagant life that pushed him into debt, although the Sultan paid off the debts.

Escape From Delhi

All the time while Ibn worked as a judge in Delhi, he was not comfortable with the tyrannical and always moody nature of the Sultan. The fear was that he could fall out of favor with the Sultan if he ever came at loggerheads in any decision with him, and that will come with a lot of disadvantages. When the Sultan offered him a task that was going to take him out of Delhi, Ibn Battuta welcomed it with open hands. He was in fact fascinated by the whole idea of being made as an ambassador of Sultan Muhammad Tughluq to the Mongol court of China. In the offer, he was to accompany 15 Chinese messengers back to their homeland, bearing gifts meant for the emperor. To the scholar, it was an opportunity to get away for Muhammad Tughluq and back to visiting more lands.

In 1341, Ibn Battuta set out as leader of a group moving from Delhi to China. The entourage bore gifts from Muhammad Tughluq to the emperor of Mongol. The gifts included: 200 Hindu slaves, 15 boy servants, 100 horses, and an incredible amount of swords, dishes, and clothes. The Sultan put about a thousand soldiers under the command of Ibn Battuta to help protect the treasury and supply until they were safely on board a ship headed for China.

It was only a few days into the journeys when 4,000 Hindu rebels attacked the traveling party. 4,000 were way more than the number of the traveling party, but Ibn Battuta claimed that he and his people easily defeated the rebels, despite their huge number. Later in the journey, they were again attacked and this time around, Ibn Battuta got separated from his companions. It was a force of over 10,000 horsemen. He managed to escape what was one of the greatest chases he faced throughout his lifetime. After the escape from Delhi, he again got confronted by another set of 40 Hindu robbers who took away all his possessions, except for his pants, shirt, and cloak. Some robbers abducted him and plotted to kill him at sunrise, but fortunately for Battuta, he could negotiate his release by giving his clothes to his abductors in return.

Eight days after his unprecedented release, the exhausted and almost naked scholar was rescued by a Muslim who carried him to a village. He recuperated quickly and within two days, he was ready to join and proceed with the party headed to China for his original mission.

The group continued without any trouble that they could not manage until they got to Daulatabad. In the city, they were safe. They rested there for a few days, before continuing on their journey. The group got to Gandhar within days from where they boarded four ships. Three of the ships were large shows, and they carried all the gift items, including the slaves, while the fourth ship was a warship which had soldiers on board to defend them against pirate attacks.

All the ships headed south and soon got to the port of Calicut. According to Ibn Battuta, they were received amid a great ovation. The locals used trumpets, drums, horns, and flags to welcome the traveling party. Ibn Battuta also got to see 13 Chinese junks in the harbor. He was impressed by the size and design of the Chinese junks. They were bigger and could contain a lot more than the dhow. They would later continue their journey to China on three of those Chinese ships. The over 1,000 crew on board helped move their gifts to the bigger ships, while Ibn Battuta had some personal time in the mosque, of course planning to join the ship later that afternoon.

Escapes Tragedy

After his time in the mosque, just when he was going to join the board, something very terrible tragedy happened. A violent storm had come up and the captains were forced to order the ships to wait out the storm out to sea, in deeper waters. Throughout the night, Ibn Battuta waited and watched on helplessly as the storm continued to rage, and by the next day, watched in horror as the storm pushed two ships to shore, broke them and sank them. No crew member survived from the ship that he was supposed to be on. It was a tragedy. The slaves, slave boys, and horses were all gone.

The other ship that carried the servants, slave girls and Ibn Battuta’s luggage had already set sail to China. This meant that the scholar was left alone, without any penny, and the shame of failing once again as a leader. He felt terrible. There was a slim chance of catching up the other ship, and he took the option. He sailed for 10 days and arrived at another port, where he intended to wait for the ship, but the ship never turned up. He’ll later hear many months later that the ship was seized by “an infidel” in Indonesia.

He was stuck and didn’t know where to go. He thought of the idea of going back to the Sultan of Delhi, but that scared him because he was not sure how the Sultan would take the news of his failed trip to China. He decided that picking a job with another Muslim sultan would be safer for him. Ibn Battuta fought alongside this sultan in day-long battle as a way to win over the sultan’s heart. Of course, the battle won him the needed favor and before long, the Sultan liked him and offered a young wife to him, which he declined for obvious reasons.

Soon, another battle was looming, and a defeat seemed inevitable this time. Ibn Battuta managed a very difficult escape through the battle line and went on to Calicut for the fifth time. From here, he decided to take a trip to China on his own accord. With an assurance that the Muslim communities along the way would help him with the issues of hospitality and comfort. He headed to China alone, taking the long route, although this time he would make a brief tour of the Maldives before going on to Sri Lanka.

Journey to the Maldives

After his stay in Delhi and all the events that ensued, it was time for Ibn Battuta to go on. On his way to China, he stopped over in the Maldives Islands, and again this place was significant to his trips. The Maldives is a tiny nation that is bordered on the southwest of India by the Indian Ocean. The island is popular for rising just a few feet above sea level. During the Medieval times, the Maldives Islands played a very important role serving as the major export city of coconut fibers and cowrie shells which was used as a medium of exchange in parts of Africa and Malaysia. In the twelfth century, the Maldives saw a religious revolution in which most of its people converted to Islam, from Buddhism. This was as a result of the act of a pious Muslim from North Africa who singlehandedly used recitations of the Koran go get rid of a terrible demon.

When Ibn Battuta arrived at Male, the capital city of Maldives, he was only planning to stay a short while and go on with his journey. But as fate would have it, he arrived at a time, when the rulers were looking for someone who was grounded in the laws of Islam and understood Arabic well to take the role of a chief judge. The rulers were delighted when they realized that their visitor fit requirements, so the sent gifts of gold jewelry, pearls, and slave girls to Ibn Battuta as a way to convince him to stay and take the role. They even put machinery in place to prevent him from leaving by ship, so it meant that he had to stay. He presented his own terms for which he would stay in the island. Listed among his terms were: He would be carried around Male in a litter, or on a horseback ride. He took a wife from the place and lived flamboyantly just like a king. The resulting events favored Ibn Battuta, and before you knew it, he was already seen as a part of the royal family and in fact the most important judge across the country.

As a chief judge, he was enthusiastic about his job, worked hard and tried everything within his power to establish a society guided strictly by Muslim laws. Some of the laws he established encouraged whipping and public disgrace for anyone that failed to attend Friday prayers. When thieves were tried and found guilty, their right hand was cut off. Women who exposed their nakedness were ordered to cover up, although he was not too successful in this one.

He took additional three wives, who were highly connected, and as a result, his power and affluence increased, and the people feared him more.

It didn’t take too long before Ibn began to make enemies after all power comes with stepping on a lot of toes. He came to loggerheads with the governors, and after heated arguments and political plots, the scholar decided that it was time to move on, after spending 9 months in the islands. He quit his job and moved on with his three wives, although he would eventually divorce them.

The Visit to Sri Lanka

At this point, Ibn Battuta already had lots of adventures. He had largely had favors and victories in most of the places he had gone to. Finally, it was time to go to China, but not without a brief stopover in Sri Lanka. He stopped in Sri Lanka with a purpose to go to a holy site on pilgrimage. The mountain, Adams Peak was a sacred place for Muslims, Buddhists, and Hindus at that time. The significance of the mountain to the religions was related to the rock that looked like a large footprint on it. To the Hindus, the print represented the footprint of Shiva, to the Buddhists, it was Buddha, while to the Muslims, it represented the footprint of Adam, the first man thrown by God from the seventh heaven according to accounts by old pilgrims.

Ibn Battuta went to meet the king of Ceylon when he arrived. The king loved the way Ibn Battuta told the story of his life adventures and entertained the scholar with his traveling party for three days, before giving them permission to climb Adam’s Peak. The ruler also showered Ibn Battuta with gifts of pearls and rubies, slaves and supplies.

After visiting the pilgrim’s site, Ibn Battuta and his party boarded another ship, which was provided by the king. Mid into their sail, there were faced by a very serious storm which brought them very close to death. Their ship was wrecked, but fortunately for Ibn Battuta, he and some of his possession survived this time again. Again, all his possession was taken by pirates who eventually overpowered him and his party.

Ibn Battuta had to board another ship to his former home in Male, where he stayed again for five days. By this time, his pregnant wife had delivered his son, and it was an opportunity to see the boy, before joining a Chinese junk that was headed to China.

Finally, Ibn Battuta Reaches China

After departing the Maldives, Ibn Battuta sailed for 40 days, before arriving the busy seaport of Quanzhou China.

A lot of the things he saw amazed him, but he was not impressed with the way the people went about their culture. In fact, he was completely uncomfortable with a culture that he barely understood. The Islamic scholar was greatly disturbed by the level of paganism going on in China that he had to limit himself from coming outside so that he would not see all the “blameworthy” things that the people did. Once in a while, he came across Muslims and every Muslim he met was family to him. Despite their culture, however, Ibn Battuta noted that China was the safest and most agreeable country in the world for anyone to visit.

After staying a while here and meeting people, he would get back on a junk headed back for his hometown in Morocco, where he lived with many stories of his numerous adventures across the Dar al-Islam.

Dubai Expo 2020 is not far off and Dubai is already building its future. It will be the first world exhibition in a Middle Eastern country and full of surprises await you. World Expo 2020 will be held in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, between 20 October 2020 and 10 April 2021. The Expo site, which will cover a total of 438 hectares, is located in the Dubai South district, near the Al Maktoum International Airport.

Preparations are already well advanced as Dubai moves into gear to host Expo 2020, which experts say should boost the city’s economy by injecting an impressive $ 23 billion. The World Expo is a prestigious international event that takes place in a different host city every five years. It acts as an important convening point for new technologies and ideas, as well as a platform for economic, social and sustainable development. Under the theme “Connecting Minds, Building the Future,” Expo 2020 will inspire stakeholders, participants and visitors to consider the future and the ways we all have to make a difference.

The first ever World’s Fair was held in London in 1851. Since then, it has grown in size and importance to become one of the largest international events, attracting millions of visitors every five years from all over the world. to the organizing city. Each edition acts as a major catalyst for economic growth at the chosen site, which is why the World Expo generates such competition for the right to organize this historic event.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Dubai Expo 2020.

The 2020 Master Plan

In 2010, in order to prepare for such growth, the Dubai government set up a committee comprising the Dubai Municipality, the Roads and Transport Agency, the Electricity and Water Agency, Dubai Civil Aviation, the Department of Land Affairs and the Dubai Maritime City, with the goal of developing a master plan for the city in anticipation of 2020.

Three growth scenarios have been developed, but Dubai is on track to follow the “strong growth” scenario rather than those of medium or low growth.

This rapid growth is partly due to the influx of residents following the events of the Arab Spring, but Expo 2020 Dubai is also involved since the event offers the prospect of new jobs.

With such an influx of new residents comes the question of housing, jobs, infrastructure, resources and services needed. In this context, training opportunities and career opportunities abound for architects, construction professionals and, perhaps even more so, urban planners.

Planners planning a career in the United Arab Emirates may need additional training to learn about local laws and regulations. Fortunately, there are world-renowned universities in Dubai, offering masters and degrees in urban planning. Planners can benefit from tax-free salaries in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and the average monthly salary for an expatriate in the UAE is $ 10,904.

Whether officials want it or not, the UAE will face significant growth over the next five years. But with contingency plans in place and an influx of motivated expatriates seeking to broaden their horizons and work for a better city, it looks like the city is well positioned to make the Dubai 2020 master plan a reality.

Some of the Projects for Expo 2020

Sixth Crossing

Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Crossing, known as “Sixth Crossing” will be the longest arch bridge in the world, with a range of 667 meters long. The bridge will be 1.6 kilometers long, 64 meters wide and 15 meters high above the water. It was designed by FXFOWLE and its construction will cost 2.5 billion UAE dirhams. lt is part of a 3 billion dirhams project to develop new roads near the Lagoons.

Dubai Adventure Studios

IMG World of Adventure is expected to open next year and will be the largest theme park in the world. Dedicated to cartoon characters from the Marvel and Cartoon Network universes, it will be located in Dubailand. Divided into four zones, the park will house a vertiginous roller coaster, offering more turns than Formula Rossa (located at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi). In November of last year, the company Meraas announced a project of 10 billion AED to build four new theme parks. Bluewaters Island Project

Comprising residential areas, recreation a. shopping centers, Jumeirah Beach Residence will appear as the focal point of the complex. The Ferris wheel, 210m high, will be the centerpiece of the project, offering a breathtaking view of the coastline and monuments of Dubai. At the base of the wheel will be a place of entertainment as well as an exclusive place for private events and conferences. An electronic platform with a large screen will allow the diffusion of films, advertisements, and information. This place will also house a souk a promenade a. a 5-star boutique hotel.

Dubai Design District

A landmark in the design industry, the Dubai Design District will feature studios, schools, boutique hotels, luxury apartments, and shopping streets.

Dubai Frame

Called to become an imposing monument attracting two million visitors a year, the Dubai Frame will be 150 meters high and 93 meters wide. It will take the form of a huge frame through which one will be able to see at the same time the constructions of modern Dubai, such as Emirates Towers or Burj Khalifa, as well as older districts of the city like Deira, Umm Harair or Karama. At the base of the frame, a museum telling the story of the development of the city will be built.

District One MBR / Mohammad Bin Rashid City

Currently, under construction; this area is located less than 3 kilometers (4 minutes drive) from the Burj Khalifa near Downtown  Dubai, a must see location with large green spaces that will become a new city in the city, with residential areas and commercial. In addition, it will offer a park that can accommodate 35 million visitors a year and the largest pool in the world (40 acres, or 16 hectares).

Alladin City

It is a project inspired by the tales of Alladin and Sinbad: according to the Municipality of Dubai, the project will consist of three key buildings, including commercial offices and hotel rooms, with towers spread over a distance 450 meters- all this is located in Al Rigga, Dubai Creek. This project is under construction and the deadline for the delivery of the buildings is not yet defined.

Dubai Opera House District and Opera House

A modular structure of 2000 seats, designed to compete for tech the famous Sydney Opera House, will be built by Emaar as part of the Opera District project in Downtown Dubai. The venue will host operas, theatrical performances, concerts, art exhibitions, orchestras, films, sporting events, and seasonal programming: it is a centerpiece of the district, inspired by the traditional sailing boats of the area. The Persian Gulf, which promotes the arts, culture, and events on the Dubai stage.

Nakheel Mall

Nakheel Mall will be the focal point of Palm Jumeirah and will be spread over five levels with 100,000 meters of space dedicated to shopping, three underground parking with 4000 spaces, 200 shops, two department stores, nine cinemas, a medical center, and a fitness center. An esplanade will also host many gourmet restaurants as well as shops offering a wide range of food and beverages. All should be completed in 2016.

Museum of the Future

The emirate will be enriched by a spectacular new building, a huge oval ring that will host by 2017 a center focused on technological innovations.

The measure is not valid in Dubai. The largest city-state of the Arab Emirates will be enriched with a huge oval ring which will contain by 2017 a Museum of the future. The book focused on technological innovations will be built at an estimated cost of $ 136 million. On Dubai’s main road, the building will be next to Burj Khalifa, the tallest tower in the world at 828 meters.

Dubai, which is emerging as a major regional business center and tourist destination, also aims to become “a global destination for inventors and entrepreneurs,” said the ruler of the emirate, Sheikh Mohamed Ben Rached Al- Maktoum, by launching the project last Wednesday. The Museum of the Future “will bring together the brightest designers, researchers, financiers and inventors under one roof,” according to its designers.

Its seven floors will house innovation labs concentrated on education, health, smart cities, transportation, and energy. The museum will also be a program for exhibiting and testing the latest innovations of technology giants and will offer opportunities for collaboration with firms and major universities or research centers around the world, say its promoters.

“The Museum of the future will be an incubator of ideas and real ideas, the engine of innovation,” said Sheikh Mohamed Ben Rached, affirming his ambition to “not be left behind” in a world “committed to a new era […] of great technological revolutions “.

The city-state of Dubai, which today has 2.3 million inhabitants, multiplies projects in anticipation of the World Expo it will host in 2020.

• When will the Dubai Expo 2020 take place?

The Expo will take place from 20 October 2020 to 10 April 2021 and will involve more than 180 countries and an estimated 25 million visitors, 70% of which are from foreign countries. The end of the works is planned for the end of 2019, in order to facilitate the tests and controls with a view to the grand opening.

Expo 2020 in Dubai will coincide with the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the United Arab Emirates, the fiftieth “anniversary” of the wealthy Persian state, whose independence from the United Kingdom was ratified on December 2, 1971. The ribbon cutting is so very close.

After the Expo? Difficult to predict the future accurately. Most of the structures will be transformed into state-of-the-art university research centers, with a congress center, museums, exhibition spaces, and many innovative services for students and researchers.

• Dubai Expo 2020 theme

“Connect the spirits, create the future”. Much more than a theme, a true mission with which the World Expo intends to recall the spirit of collaboration in the name of development and innovation.

Under the theme of the catalyst of Dubai Expo 2020, three “sub-themes” are gathered to deepen and motivate the intention to “create the future”:
– sustainability, for progress that does not compromise the life and the needs of the generations future;
– mobility, to create new, more efficient connections (physical or virtual) between people, communities, and countries;
– the opportunities to be unlocked in favor of the future of the peoples.

A few words on the logo, which perfectly embodies the theme of Expo 2020: a ring composed of many small concentric circles that meet to form the central ring. Symbol of the unity of peoples and continuity between the present and the future. But to make the history of the logo even more fascinating is its origin.

The design is in fact inspired by an old gold ring dating back more than 6,000 years, recently discovered during archaeological excavations in the Saruq Al Hadid desert between Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

• Aspiration of Dubai Expo 2020

Continuing with the theme of the event, the goal is to bring together ideas from around the world and to engage participants in addressing common challenges. Ideas will have to simplify life and improve its quality, not to mention what has been done with Expo 2015. Proposals and projects will, therefore, be synthesized in a common vision for our future. And the foundation of this change is the same Expo 2020 site.

Half of the electricity used during the event will be entirely generated by renewable sources, while 90% of the equipment to be used in new buildings will be converted and reused by older buildings and infrastructure. The Dubai Expo is also an opportunity to boost employment and investment: the sustainable development of tourist attractions, commercial and residential spaces will create approximately 277,000 new jobs, 40% of which are in the tourism marketing sector.

• Where will Dubai Expo 2020 location?

The Dubai 2020 exhibition area will be installed in a new exhibition center, covering more than 400 hectares, the Dubai Trade Centre-Jebel Ali, located in the area adjacent to the new Al Maktoum International Airport, the largest world airport. By the number of passengers (160 million per year). The free zone surrounding the exhibition site should be served by the most innovative transportation network on the planet and will be divided into six separate districts (aeronautics, commercial, golf, logistics, exhibition and residential), as well as an airport and a business center. Center for start-up offices and large international companies in the commercial district.

• How to access the exhibition site Expo 2020?

The World Expo site is equidistant from the centers of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the main cities of the Emirates, so easily accessible from the three airports: (DWC) Dubai World Central, (DXB) Dubai International Airport and (AUH) Abu Dhabi International Airport. The infrastructure connecting the different airports to Dubai and its main attractions is already efficient and reliable. However, in order to facilitate the transportation of Abu Dhabi and Dubai, it is planned to build a train for the least science fiction. This is the Hyperloop, a train-capsules powered by solar panels that connect the two cities (157 kilometers) in just 12 minutes!

• How will the Dubai Expo 2020 exhibition site be organized?

What are the pavilions not to be missed? According to early rumors, the project would draw in part from the logic of the traditional Arab market, the souk, where each type of commodity and food is housed in a different sector. In the center of the site, the central square Al Wasl (former name of Dubai), from where all the exhibition spaces open. In the center of the square are the smaller pavilions along the largest perimeter that extend like large petals.

Three main pavilions, each dedicated to one of the main thematic areas: sustainability, mobility, and opportunities. The sustainability pavilion will consist of a series of flat structures covered with photovoltaic panels. It will host the latest discoveries on renewable energies and energy innovation. The clover will be the symbol of the pavilion of mobility, the latter surrounded by a large square decorated with animations and lights.

Very interesting Pavilion Opportunity project: a kind of inverted pyramid, with openings, passages and even a covered garden that will be the “home” of events and thematic shows. Among the petals will be housing, as well as other important pavilions of Dubai Expo 2020, namely the Welcome Pavilion, the Pavilion of Innovation and the United Arab Emirates Pavilion. The “measure” of the project? About 4 km long and 1.8 amplitude. Despite its size, the exhibition space seems designed to be accessible and fully explored on foot.

• What to visit in Dubai during the Expo 2020?

Expo 2020 there are not only pavilions. Dubai is a metropolis in full evolution and transformation. Many attractions are being developed for the World Expo. Among these stands out (in every sense of the word) the Calatrava tower, designed to redefine the skyline of the city, which will become the tallest skyscraper in the world. Vertiginous is also the project “The Frame”, a building consisting of two towers 150 meters high connected by a bridge of 100 meters.

By 2020, many areas will be redeveloped and, next to the already existing complexes in Dubai, as a huge shopping center that will be built with an amusement park inside, a “citadel “with health clinics and research centers and an ecological harbor in the historic Dubai Creek.

Abu Dhabi is also in full fermentation. The capital of the Emirates will host an island dedicated to culture and especially museums. The works on the site announced the creation of an isolated pole of the Louvre designed by Jean Nouvel, a Guggenheim museum with the amazing architecture in neo-baroque style and the Zayed museum dedicated to the history of the Emirates.

• Tickets for Dubai Expo 2020

For the moment, the tickets are not yet available and it is difficult to give precise indications on this subject. The advice is to check the official website and not to miss to stay on our site. In the dedicated online portal, it is already possible, for example, to view all events, press releases and details of initiatives.

• Where to stay during Expo 2020

The large estimated participation has pushed the construction of new UAE hotels to increase the number of facilities. Forecasts speak of an increase of nearly 40,000 hotel rooms, from 65,000 currently to more than 100,000. In addition to new hotels, the renovation and modernization of existing structures are already in place.

• Other things to do in Dubai aside from the exhibition

With or without the Expo, Dubai is already worth the price of the ticket. The rich metropolis of the Middle East is a mix of architectural magnificence and natural charms. You can visit many attractions, from Deira Dubai to downtown Dubai, through the city of shopping, the marina and the historic Al Bastakiya, the old city completely rebuilt. The most famous buildings are the Burj Khalifa, whose record height will be supplanted by the Calatrava tower, and the Burj al Arab, a luxury hotel with a characteristic sail shape, overlooking the Persian Gulf. No less fascinating are the dancing fountains and the underwater zoo, both located in the Dubai Mall, a futuristic shopping center in the heart of the metropolis. Dubai is also a culture, religion, and nature, including desert safaris, cruises, and beautiful, sunny beaches.

Having 3500 km stretch of shoreline, the Kingdom of Morocco holds a solid tradition of aquatic fisheries. In 2014, its state fisheries production amounted to 1.3M tons, making it Africa’s biggest maritime fisheries producer and gaining the 25th spot worldwide.

The fishery industry in Morocco contributes about 2.3% to the gross domestic product or GDP, creating direct employment for more than a hundred thousand fishermen. An estimated 3M Moroccan people depend on their life source on fisheries.

It is in this idea that aquaculture in the country is very promising. As early as the 1950s, some mariculture like sea bass, sea bream, and shrimp was introduced in Morocco which undergone expansive growth in the 1980s. It was in 2009, during the launch of the new national fisheries plan called Halieutis, containing provisions for vital growth in aquaculture together with continued work in sustainable fisheries, has carried out a new momentum for the fishery industry. Two years later, the government, in support of its ambition, also created a specific agency called the National Agency for Aquaculture Development.

Morocco’s plan to double seafood exports by 2020

The government of Morocco launched large-scale plans to solidify its fishery industry, planning to take full advantage of the nation’s more than 3 thousand kilometers of marine coastline, fronting both the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.

Morocco, with its 3,500 km coastline, exports roughly 80,000 tons of octopus yearly, more than 600,000 tons of frozen, fresh and canned seafood and fish products valued at €1.6bn every year. It supplies each year 1.2M metric tons of pelagic fish which includes sardines. About 139,000 tons of canned sardine is being exported and valued to be at $390m, of which around half of it is distributed to other African markets. These figures helped the nation become the largest producer of sardine and exporter of canned sardines in the world.

Morocco, at present, is Africa’s largest maritime fisheries producer and the world’s 17th largest producer of seafood, fishing and harvesting a total of more or less 1.5 million metric tons of seafood annually. The fishing industry accounts for 58 percent of the country’s food agriculture exports and seven percent of its total exports. As per the National Fisheries Office, the fishing industry produced $1.59 billion in exports in 2015. The Halieutis plan seeks to grow the value of seafood exports to over $ 3.10 billion by 2020.

Aquaculture

Aquaculture was first introduced to Morocco in the 1950s with fresh sea bass, sea bream, and shrimp farms in the Mediterranean, and began a slow expansion from the 1980s. Cultivation of these species is expected to grow alongside shellfish such as oysters, mussels, abalone, and clams.

In 2016, the Morocco king opened the nation’s first marketable shellfish hatchery and farm. Established by Azura Aquaculture, the two-acre facility is a portion of a more expansive program created under the Halieutis plan and will play a part to advancing the sustainability of resources in the Dakhla-Oued Ed-dahab region on the Atlantic coast.  It will also support the marketing of shellfish farming and the processing and promotion of roughly 1,000 metric tons of clams, oysters, and abalone. Specifically, it is tasked with reducing the animal health risks in relation to the importation of these species.

A Spanish mountainous village located 7 kilometers off the coast amidst Estepona, Marbella, and La Serrania de Ronda mountain range, Benahavis is one of the most mountainous villages with more than 5 thousand residents and yet close the resort beaches. The border of Benahavis municipality almost reach the coast but is not a coastline itself. Its topography passes through Guadaiza, Guadalmina, and Guadalmansa Rivers.

The town derived its name from the Arabic “Bin al Havis”, which means “son of Havis.” Havis is an 11th-century Moorish prince who ruled in Montemayor Castle.

Historical Background of Benahavis

The history of this town dates back to the latter part of the 11th century when Benahavís was founded by Arabs around the fortress that they had constructed to protect the Eastern section of the Arab castle of Montemayor. The community was closely drawn with Arabic past of Andalusia, specifically with Marbella, the municipality to which it belongs till it was bestowed in 1572 by Philip II the so-called “Carta Puebla.”

Montemayor Castle played an important role in disputes between succeeding Arab leaders in Andalusia, due to its strategic location. Also dated from the same period, the 3 towers; La Leonera, La Reina, and the Daiden, were constructed in the same vicinity to defend the castle. These fortifications were very significant throughout the battles that were executed amongst the various Kingdoms in and around Tarifa de Al Andalus due to their strategic value where most of the Northern region of Morocco can be spotted and controlled from its walls. The structure overlooking even the African coast, with up to 100 km of seaboard visible in fine weather was tremendously useful at a period when pirate attacks were common.

The Christian period started in January 1485 when the Catholic Kings entered the Marbella city, intended to conquer the last Moorish territory in the southern part of the Iberian Peninsula and keys of the city were handed over to King Ferdinand by Mohammed Abunefa after the signing submission.

The Catholic Monarchs trusted their protection to Don Pedro Villandrado, the first Christian mayor of Benahavís. Right after, it resulted to a clash between Marbella and Benahavís which continued for more than 3 centuries, up until in 1572 when Benahavís realized its independence from Marbella, the moment when King Felipe II presented it with the “Carta Puebla”.

Present day Benahavis

These days, Benahavís is a typical Andalucian town with its street layout preserved in original form and several monumental features that bear witness to its glorious past.

Benahavís also takes pride in its majestic natural landscapes that are a must visit such as “Las Angosturas”, a tight gorge where Guadalmedina River passes through. The local municipal economy highly depends on tourism, due to its neighboring Marbella. Benahavís offers excellent international cuisines, impressive golf complexes that are located in the boundaries of the municipality. These features appeal to a huge number of investors who have put their investments into different property developments in the area which has contributed significantly to the town.

Travel to Benahavís

To get to Benahavis, you can choose from various airports such as Malaga International Airport and the Jerez Airport. However, the closest airport to Benahavís is Gibraltar’s North Front Airport which is just 31 miles away.

If you want to know what fun activities, things to do or must-see places you should check out, check out the list below. Do include these interesting tourist spots in your Benahavís itinerary.

• Castle of Montemayor
• Torre Tramore
• Torre Esteril
• Torre Daidin
• Torre Campanillas
• Torre Leoneras

Benahavis, being recognized to be Costa del Sol’s dining room of the is a paradise for food lovers and drinking buffs with its various types of restaurants and international dishes. While the majority of restaurants usually serve Spanish meals, visitors can order Italian food, French cuisine, and Indian curry. Every restaurant is known for preparing huge portions and offering visitors a great value for their money.

For excellent food quality and superb service, you can check out the following restaurants.

• Los Abanicos Restaurant
• Amanhavis Hotel & Restaurant
• Rufino

For a more unforgettable experience, try to indulge on a food journey and sample a wide selection of native favorites like meat dishes (venison, veal, rabbit or suckling pig); dishes like Fish and Shellfish Zarzuela and other kinds of exquisite recipes. A lot of restaurants also offer these other dishes that are most recommended like T-bone steaks, veal sirloin steaks, oxtail and the hot Spanish sausage they call chorizo.