Dubai and Abu Dhabi

We flew into Dubai two days before we were scheduled to fly to the Maldives.  It gave us a few days to do some shopping, some eating (taking in all of the foods we miss while living in Russia), and all around beginning our relaxation.

After the Maldives, we flew back to Dubai,

View from our hotel in Dubai.  I had to document this, a cloudy day in Dubai!
It actually rained for a bit!  The clouds did not last long, they quickly left. 

then the next day set off for Abu Dhabi.  Ryan was scheduled to have a week of training, and after some last minute changes to my flights, I joined him for the week.  Ryan had been to Abu Dhabi previously, once for business, and once with me to Ferrari World (when we were last in Dubai May 2011).

Ryan spent the days at training, I spent the days working on my tan.  One evening, after training, we took a taxi over to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.  It is the largest mosque in the UAE (United Arab Emirates, and the eighth largest mosque in the world.  Beautiful.

The courtyard is 17,000 sq. meters (180,000 sq. feet)

Strict dress code.
Loose fitting, long skirt/dress, long sleeves, and hair covered.
No tight fitting clothes, pants, or shorts.
Guys had it easier, no shorts, or sleeveless shirts. 

Second largest chandelier in a mosque, third largest in the world.
33 ft. diameter - 49 ft. height