The great escape

Al Futaisi island, off Abu Dhabi, is scheduled to reopen for visitors next month. During an exclusive preview trip, Kavitha S. Daniel discovers what lies in store for those seeking 'nature weekends'

Basking in the sun on the beach, sipping a fresh fruit juice, watching the frothy waves and letting the sand trickle through your fingers. That's how most people in the Emirates would love to spend their weekends and holidays.

Fleeing the ennui of the daily grind, expatriates and UAE nationals alike often head out to places like Fujairah, Umm Al Quwain, Dibba, Saadiyat, Liwa... Now, a UAE national businessman is all set to offer a getaway opiton in Abu Dhabi.

Working on the lack of a proper weekend or even a weekday family resort in Abu Dhabi, Omran Sultan Al Hallami, chairman of the Abu Dhabi-based Al Hallami Group, is in the process of developing a scenic, seaside resort on the pristine and sandy island of Al Futaisi.

"I'm hoping to plug the shortage of resorts in the Abu Dhabi market by developing one on Al Futaisi island," says Omran Al Hallami. "However, the resort will grow in a phased manner because we want to retain the eco-friendly environment of the island.''

This is in line with the thinking of the owner of Al Futaisi island, Sheikh Hamad bin Hamdan Al Nahyan or popularly known as the Rainbow Sheikh (rainbow being his trademark emblem).

Even today, despite the sand golf course and the chalets, by and large, Al Futaisi island retains its natural and primitive beauty. In most parts of the sandy and rocky island roam desert wildlife, like wild gazelles, hares, dhoubs, ospreys, waders and sandgrouses, flamingos and a variety of birds.

In fact, this island, which can be reached by a 10-minute motorboat ride from the jetty at the Old Gasco building, was in the news recently for the discovery of 22 ancient water catchments by archaeologists. This island's history is likely to date back hundreds of years judging by the existence of old waterwells, an ancient mosque and a graveyard.

It is said that before the discovery of oil, Al Futaisi probably supplied sweet water to the population of Abu Dhabi and all the stone required for building the houses and forts of the Rulers.