....Abu Dhabi

“It is near Dubai.” – “Ah!”. Some of them still think I am living in Dubai… Abu Dhabi used to be known (or rather not known) for being the smaller, less exciting and more conservative city one hour down the coast from Dubai. More recently, it hit the news as the rich city that bailed out its troubled neighbour. Both these ideas of Abu Dhabi are correct in some respects but they only reflect two facets of a diverse and developing capital.

Looking out of the window of my office I can see lush palm gardens, sandy beaches and traditional dhow boats as well as skyscrapers, construction work and youngsters enjoying a day out on their jet skis. This is a city of contrasts. Although everything has changed from 50 years ago when there wasn’t much more than a fishing village here, the Emiratis are proud of their culture and make an effort to preserve it and make it accessible to visitors. The marble Grand Mosque, Heritage Village, desert safaris out into the vast sand dunes, including camel rides and belly dancers if you are so inclined, and events from camel and horse racing to the date festival all give insights into the UAE’s history and customs. On the other hand, it is quite easy to forget about the roots of Abu Dhabi and simply enjoy the luxuries that oil revenues have brought this nation. Five star hotels in abundance, fast cars, roof top bars, beach parties, cooled swimming pools and air-conditioned restaurants, shops and galleries offering the best from all over the world.

The office here is much smaller than the one in London so it was easy to get to know everyone and I felt welcome from the moment I was picked up at the airport. The associates quickly took me under their collective wing and introduced me to Abu Dhabi after office hours. Working with colleagues from different backgrounds has been very interesting and I have learnt a lot about the region – although I have to admit that the first conversation about Israel and Palestine over lunch took me by surprise. As the only trainee in the office, I am getting involved in a variety of transactions with lawyers from different departments. This allows me to experience more than just one area of work during my seat and will give me a good grounding for the choice awaiting me on qualification.

Qualification is, however, a long way off and I am looking forward to making the most of my time abroad in the meantime. When I first arrived in Abu Dhabi during the height of the summer, with temperatures as high as 50 degrees Celsius, and in the middle of Ramadan, the city seemed eerily quiet. Luckily, this first impression quickly proved to be wrong. In a city of this size and with a fairly tight-knit expat community, it is easy to get to know like-minded people to explore Abu Dhabi and beyond. I have just returned from a long weekend immersed in the history and nightlife of Beirut and am planning trips to Jordan and Oman. Abu Dhabi Classics will bring world class orchestras to the capital and the Formula 1 grand prix will see the city buzzing with fast cars and free concerts on the beach.

White & Case is one of the few firms that have an office in Abu Dhabi but not in Dubai so I did not have to choose between the two before packing my bags. However, I am delighted to have ended up on this side of the Abu Dhabi – Dubai highway.