• ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - September 11, 2011 - New students at Pisco School starting Kindergarten I in Ava Rodimo Yana's class were either like fish out of water or in their worst nightmare as classes started on Sunday. Emotions ran from a sense of wonder, excitement, sleepiness to fear, puzzlement and curiousity as some parents and to soothe the nerves of some by staying close by and some students tried to make the great escape. ( DELORES JOHNSON / The National )
    ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - September 11, 2011 - New students at Pisco School starting Kindergarten I in Ava Rodimo Yana's class were either like fish out of water or in their worst nightmare as classes started on Sunday. Emotions ran from a sense of wonder, excitement, sleepiness to fear, puzzlement and curiousity as some parents and to soothe the nerves of some by staying close by and some students tried to make the great escape. ( DELORES JOHNSON / The National )
  • Abu Dhabi, September 11, 2011: New students at Pisco School starting Kindergarten I in Ava Rodimo Yana's class. ( DELORES JOHNSON / The National )
    Abu Dhabi, September 11, 2011: New students at Pisco School starting Kindergarten I in Ava Rodimo Yana's class. ( DELORES JOHNSON / The National )
  • Dubai, September 11, 2011: Junior students who arrived late wait to be guided to their respective classes, at HH Shaikh Rashid Al Maktoum Pakistan School. (Jeffrey E Biteng / The National)
    Dubai, September 11, 2011: Junior students who arrived late wait to be guided to their respective classes, at HH Shaikh Rashid Al Maktoum Pakistan School. (Jeffrey E Biteng / The National)
  • Dubai, September 11, 2011: First year high school students at a Physics class doing an experiment with their teacher Asma Tauqir, under the watchful eye of Dr Abdur Rashid Bangash, at HH Shaikh Rashid Al Maktoum Pakistan School. (Jeffrey E Biteng / The ???
    Dubai, September 11, 2011: First year high school students at a Physics class doing an experiment with their teacher Asma Tauqir, under the watchful eye of Dr Abdur Rashid Bangash, at HH Shaikh Rashid Al Maktoum Pakistan School. (Jeffrey E Biteng / The ???
  • Dubai, September 11, 2011: Junior Grade three pupils writing at their Science class, at HH Shaikh Rashid Al Maktoum Pakistan School. (Jeffrey E Biteng / The National)
    Dubai, September 11, 2011: Junior Grade three pupils writing at their Science class, at HH Shaikh Rashid Al Maktoum Pakistan School. (Jeffrey E Biteng / The National)
  • Dubai, September 11, 2011: New students take a test at the math class during their first day of school at Dubai International Academy. ( Jaime Puebla - The National Newspaper )
    Dubai, September 11, 2011: New students take a test at the math class during their first day of school at Dubai International Academy. ( Jaime Puebla - The National Newspaper )
  • DUBAI, September 11: Rapheeq a student of KG 1 crying on the first day of his school at The Elite English School in Dubai. (Pawan Singh / The National)
    DUBAI, September 11: Rapheeq a student of KG 1 crying on the first day of his school at The Elite English School in Dubai. (Pawan Singh / The National)
  • DUBAI, September 11, 2011: Students going to school on the first day after the summer vacation at The Elite English School in Dubai. (Pawan Singh / The National)
    DUBAI, September 11, 2011: Students going to school on the first day after the summer vacation at The Elite English School in Dubai. (Pawan Singh / The National)
  • DUBAI, September 11: Students of KG 1 and KG 2 during the assembly on the first day after the summer vacation at The Elite English School in Dubai. (Pawan Singh / The National)
    DUBAI, September 11: Students of KG 1 and KG 2 during the assembly on the first day after the summer vacation at The Elite English School in Dubai. (Pawan Singh / The National)
  • Al Ain, September 11, 2011: Students eat lunch during the first day of classes at Mezyad School in Al Ain. (Andrew Henderson / The National)
    Al Ain, September 11, 2011: Students eat lunch during the first day of classes at Mezyad School in Al Ain. (Andrew Henderson / The National)
  • Al Ain, September 11, 2011: Students walk through a courtyard during lunch on the first day of classes at Mezyad School in Al Ain. The courtyard is shaded by solar panels, which provide 15 percent of the schools electricity and the walls are lined with ???
    Al Ain, September 11, 2011: Students walk through a courtyard during lunch on the first day of classes at Mezyad School in Al Ain. The courtyard is shaded by solar panels, which provide 15 percent of the schools electricity and the walls are lined with ???
  • Dubai, September 11, 2011: Two students embrace at the first day of school at Dubai International Academy. ( Jaime Puebla - The National Newspaper )
    Dubai, September 11, 2011: Two students embrace at the first day of school at Dubai International Academy. ( Jaime Puebla - The National Newspaper )
  • DUBAI, September 11, 2011: Tvisha a student of KG 1 B listening to her father Rikesh on the first day of her school at The Elite English School in Dubai. (Pawan Singh / The National)
    DUBAI, September 11, 2011: Tvisha a student of KG 1 B listening to her father Rikesh on the first day of her school at The Elite English School in Dubai. (Pawan Singh / The National)
  • Al Ain, September 11, 2011: Students come back to class after eating lunch during the first day of classes at Mezyad School in Al Ain. (Andrew Henderson / The National)
    Al Ain, September 11, 2011: Students come back to class after eating lunch during the first day of classes at Mezyad School in Al Ain. (Andrew Henderson / The National)
  • Al Ain, September 11, 2011: Kandance Johnson works with Sagr Samin during the first day of classes at Mezyad School in Al Ain. (Andrew Henderson / The National)
    Al Ain, September 11, 2011: Kandance Johnson works with Sagr Samin during the first day of classes at Mezyad School in Al Ain. (Andrew Henderson / The National)

In pictures: Schools reopen after summer break


  • English
  • Arabic

Electric scooters: some rules to remember
  • Riders must be 14-years-old or over
  • Wear a protective helmet
  • Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
  • Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
  • Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
  • Do not drive outside designated lanes
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Suggested picnic spots

Abu Dhabi
Umm Al Emarat Park
Yas Gateway Park
Delma Park
Al Bateen beach
Saadiyaat beach
The Corniche
Zayed Sports City
 
Dubai
Kite Beach
Zabeel Park
Al Nahda Pond Park
Mushrif Park
Safa Park
Al Mamzar Beach Park
Al Qudrah Lakes 

Name: Peter Dicce

Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics

Favourite sport: soccer

Favourite team: Bayern Munich

Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer

Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates