BlogHop

1. Litter

There isn’t any – anywhere: And we can’t remember the last time we spotted graffiti, for that matter (apart from some low-grade tagging in the underpasses at the end of Hamdan Street). Of course, there’s no excuse to not putting your rubbish in the bin where it belongs, but it’s a pleasure to see the army of street cleaners to cope with the people who don’t seem able to cope with a bin. And oh how we don’t seem able to cope with a bin. And oh we don’t miss finding chewing gum stuck to our soles.

2. Greenery

Abu Dhabi is evergreen: parks, grassy roundabouts and flower lined pavements – even the central motorway reservations are planted (that’s how you know when you cross the border into Dubai – just watch the palm trees disappear from the sides of the road…)

3. The Plan

Abu Dhabi has a really good plan and is sticking to it: Plan 2030 is a thorough and thoughtul blueprint for the future of the capital. From designated high rise areas (the city is happily lacking in an overwhelming sprawl of skyscrapers) to environment protection and projected rail system, funeral costs, the long-term goals are inpressively documented, well constructed and already being well carried out.