The non-tourist side of Abu Dhabi

Steve and Peter took me sightseeing Friday on the way to Dubai. We went in to the industrial area outside Abu Dhabi where the real heart of this Emirate is.

This is a 20 km square area chock a block full of tiny shops, warehouses, distribution centres and manufacturing. Mostly it’s these tiny, dusty, dirty shops that do small manufacturing or fabricating. Jammed together, cheek by jowl. It’s all foreign workers, mostly Indian and Pakistani. This is the labour/manufacturing "engine" that drives Abu Dhabi. No tour buses here.

Lots of mosques in the area. Faith is huge here, and deeply rooted.

If you throw out your old car muffler, this is the area where they’ll pick it up, repair it by hand, then sell it again.

We went in to one of the accomodation buildings for workers. Tiny entrace between two auto repair places. Wouldn't have noticed the entrance if we weren't looking for it. Narrow walkway, two tiers of small rooms, six bed rolls to a room, three banks of bunk beds. Shared cooking area outside, squat toilets, communal wash area. "Camp boss" who has his own room, there to keep order ensure no outside people try and sneak in to live there. Depressing, but it was average for the area, and in some cases, a step up in life for some workers.

The third world workers typically live in these conditions, here on a 3 year work visa, sponsored by a specific employer. Work six days a week, with a four week trip home once a year, sometimes every two years. Most have paid a local employment firm in their home country $800 US or a lot more for these jobs. The agency arranges the visa, flight and screens them for the employer.

Incredible way to live...