See the Middle East from space

Motivate Publishing has signed an agreement with Space Imaging Middle East, the leading regional provider of satellite imagery and geo-spatial solutions, to produce a book of high-resolution satellite imagery of the Middle East.

The publication will be one of a kind, offering a never-before-seen perspective of landmarks and locations across the region.

David Steele, senior editor at Motivate Publishing, said, "The Middle East from Space will give readers the opportunity to gain an unfamiliar and spectacular view of places and structures they are accustomed to seeing from ground level.

Satellite images offer an unparalleled feeling of freedom and allow readers to grasp the geographic dimensions around them. They also make great photos and wonderful abstracts."

The images used have been carefully chosen from Space Imaging Middle East's archive, containing more than 25 million sq km of imagery.

The selection includes high-resolution imagery that shows details as small as one metre in size, as well low-resolution images that give a general view over large areas.

"We have put our extensive archive, collected during eight years, at the disposal of this publication," said Mohammad Al Kadi, managing director, Space Imaging Middle East.

The company started collecting five-metre imagery in January 1998 and, in 2000, began receiving images from IKONOS, the first high-resolution satellite, well known for its superb images of construction stages of The Palm, Jumeirah.

The book will feature major cities in the region, including Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sana'a, Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh and Baghdad.

It will also show historical monuments such as the Giza Pyramids and Baalbeck. Natural landscapes such as the Red Sea coast, the Nile, the Dead Sea and the Tigris River will also be a feature.

Heritage comes alive in Hatta

The Hatta Heritage Village, operated by the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), has successfully organised a Summer Entertainment Programme for the third consecutive year.

The six-week long Summer Programme has been organised in association with Hatta Fort Hotel and Dubai Department of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs (Hatta Office) between July 14 and August 26.

It aims to keep traditions alive, giving both young people who live in the UAE and tourists a sense of the country's rich heritage.

Special events and competitions for boys in disciplines such as archery, darts and horse riding have been organised and prizes given.

The women also enjoyed a cooking competition focusing on UAE cuisine.

Khalid Ali Bin Gharib, manager, Hatta Heritage Village, said: "The whole idea is to educate about our rich culture and invaluable heritage for the benefit of the future generations."

Until August 26, the village hosts a traditional weapons exhibition plus a date exhibition. Daily separate sessions for boys and girls on Islam are also being held.