A spectacular image of the Palm Jumeirah in Dubai taken from the International Space Station. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office
A spectacular image of the Palm Jumeirah in Dubai taken from the International Space Station. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office
A spectacular image of the Palm Jumeirah in Dubai taken from the International Space Station. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office
A spectacular image of the Palm Jumeirah in Dubai taken from the International Space Station. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office

Striking view of Dubai's Palm Jumeirah from space


Ramola Talwar Badam
  • English
  • Arabic

Striking photos taken from space capture the Palm Jumeirah and the Dubai coastline.

Nasa astronaut Chris Cassidy shared the crystal clear images from the International Space Station showing the trunk and fronds of the distinctive UAE landmark.

“Always an amazing view when you fly over #uae!!” he posted on his Instagram account.

Mr Cassidy also wrote that it was inspiring to watch the first flight of Emirati astronaut Hazza Al Mansouri and acknowledged his colleagues at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre.

The images were shared by the Dubai Media Office.

Mr Al Mansouri made history as the first UAE citizen to complete a space mission when he was aboard the space station in September last year.

Mr Mansouri too had shared photos of the UAE's western coastline, images of Abu Dhabi city and his home town of Liwa.

"Despite being miles away, my heart longed for the warmth of this land," he had tweeted.

The six crew currently in the orbiting laboratory are scheduled to return to Earth in October and will conduct about 160 investigations in biology and technology development.

Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

Where to buy art books in the UAE

There are a number of speciality art bookshops in the UAE.

In Dubai, The Lighthouse at Dubai Design District has a wonderfully curated selection of art and design books. Alserkal Avenue runs a pop-up shop at their A4 space, and host the art-book fair Fully Booked during Art Week in March. The Third Line, also in Alserkal Avenue, has a strong book-publishing arm and sells copies at its gallery. Kinokuniya, at Dubai Mall, has some good offerings within its broad selection, and you never know what you will find at the House of Prose in Jumeirah. Finally, all of Gulf Photo Plus’s photo books are available for sale at their show. 

In Abu Dhabi, Louvre Abu Dhabi has a beautiful selection of catalogues and art books, and Magrudy’s – across the Emirates, but particularly at their NYU Abu Dhabi site – has a great selection in art, fiction and cultural theory.

In Sharjah, the Sharjah Art Museum sells catalogues and art books at its museum shop, and the Sharjah Art Foundation has a bookshop that offers reads on art, theory and cultural history.

Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence 

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE