Swiss Christmas Market, Abu Dhabi 2017

The annual Swiss Christmas Market is organized by the

Swiss Business Council in Abu Dhabi

The Swiss Christmas Market is a highly popular event on the expat calendar in Abu Dhabi. It is held each year in the Courtyard and Beach Garden of the Beach Rotana in the Al Zahiya Area, near the Abu Dhabi Mall.

I heard of the Swiss Christmas Market through the Expat Ladies Coffee Morning Group who had arranged a visit. Before sampling the market's wares, we gorged on a sumptuous Christmas High Tea in the Beach Rotana Hotel.

Members of our group enjoying the Swiss Christmas market

This 4-day event features wooden chalets resembling a Swiss village, where vendors can sell seasonal items and handicrafts, accompanied by traditional Swiss music, while sampling traditional Swiss gourmet delights.

“Original Appenzeller Streichmusik Alder”

This band – “Original Appenzeller Streichmusik Alder” - is one of the most famous Swiss folklore bands. They provided the perfect musical background to the market.  I almost felt like I should be dancing from chalet to chalet, in time with their lively music.

People from all over the world are here in Abu Dhabi.

This stall is from South Africa

Sometimes it’s hard to resist such beautifully made items.

There was an amazing variety of handwork on display…

…that we really needed more time to enjoy it all.

There were plenty of people keen to shop…

…in the prettily decorated chalets.

I spent some time chatting to Andy Anderson, a fellow photographer,

who was selling examples of his wall art.

Andy had a wonderful selection of images, and also copies of his book, "The United Arab Emirates Through My Eyes", which is on sale in Spinneys and in the Louvre, Abu Dhabi. Andy is a very talented photographer, who I am now following on Facebook. I love his work, which I found very inspiring.

A very Merry Christmas to all.

Elizabeth Coughlan

United Arab Emirates Celebrates 46 Years

Highly skilled pilots gave a heart-stopping aerobatic display.

National Day is always a major event in Abu Dhabi, with lots of entertainment. This year was no exception. The United Arab Emirates’  Airforce, with their death-defying stunts, entertained the thousands that gathered on the Corniche to watch them.

The jets soared high into the sky,

Streaming the colours of the National Flag behind them.

Another group of jets gave us a rainbow across the sky…

…which the wind blew into colourful clouds…

…hanging over the city

Suddenly, a beautiful arc appeared, followed by another…

…Leaving a heart, suspended in the sky.

All too soon, they were gone, 

leaving their colourful clouds suspended over Abu Dhabi.

I do hope I get to see this again next year. It really is a wonderful spectacle.

Elizabeth Coughlan