On April 8, 2020, Bachir Moukarzel's footage of an empty Sheikh Zayed Road went viral.
The Dubai drone photographer is known for posting some of the most unique and awe-inspiring aerial shots of the city.
But it was the sight of its most famous highway, usually bustling with people and cars, completely empty that resonated with people most. At the time, new restrictions had recently been implemented to curb the spread of coronavirus.
Now, in 2021, the artist has returned to the same spots, this time to capture how much the city, and its roads, have changed in a year.
His new footage, taken in January, shows Palm Jumeirah, Sheikh Zayed Road and other parts of the city, all of which are now bustling with life again.
"It was such a nice feeling," Moukarzel tells The National. "In April 2020, you could park your car on Sheikh Zayed Road to fly the drone – it was that empty. But now, it is back to what it looked like before the pandemic. It's incredible to see that people feel confident about going out."
Moukarzel's work unsurprisingly slowed in 2020, with fewer shoots, no gatherings and not much production work happening, but by October he could see the city coming back to life. By January, he felt things were back to normal.
“This comes at a time when many other parts of the world are still having lockdowns. It really highlights our recovery, that what we’ve been doing here is so great. For sure, it’s thanks to the actions of the government as well as the people. We’ve been following the rules, getting vaccinated – and this is the result.”
He made sure to specifically capture the new footage during daytime hours, to really show the contrast between 2020 and 2021 and depict a new day, “full of light”.
“Of course, things are not completely back to normal – there are rules everyone has to still follow, and precautions that have to be taken. But I’m proud of us. We were all in the same boat and we've come this far together.”
Who is Bachir Moukarzel?
Moukarzel moved to the UAE from Lebanon in 2002, studied finance at the American University in Dubai and has been working for the Rotana Hotel Group for the past 11 years.
He started dabbling with drone photography as a hobby about five years ago, but it has since become a big part of his life and he has received global accolades, including first place in the urban category of the International Drone Photography Contest in 2017.
In October 2020, his photo of the Dubai Frame won in the construction category of the first Aerial Photography Awards, with hopefuls from 65 countries participating.
More of Moukarzel's work can be viewed on his Instagram page
Company profile
Company name: Nestrom
Started: 2017
Co-founders: Yousef Wadi, Kanaan Manasrah and Shadi Shalabi
Based: Jordan
Sector: Technology
Initial investment: Close to $100,000
Investors: Propeller, 500 Startups, Wamda Capital, Agrimatico, Techstars and some angel investors
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, semi-final result:
Liverpool 4-0 Barcelona
Liverpool win 4-3 on aggregate
Champions Legaue final: June 1, Madrid
Bert van Marwijk factfile
Born: May 19 1952
Place of birth: Deventer, Netherlands
Playing position: Midfielder
Teams managed:
1998-2000 Fortuna Sittard
2000-2004 Feyenoord
2004-2006 Borussia Dortmund
2007-2008 Feyenoord
2008-2012 Netherlands
2013-2014 Hamburg
2015-2017 Saudi Arabia
2018 Australia
Major honours (manager):
2001/02 Uefa Cup, Feyenoord
2007/08 KNVB Cup, Feyenoord
World Cup runner-up, Netherlands
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Saturday
Borussia Dortmund v Eintracht Frankfurt (5.30pm kick-off UAE)
Bayer Leverkusen v Schalke (5.30pm)
Wolfsburg v Cologne (5.30pm)
Mainz v Arminia Bielefeld (5.30pm)
Augsburg v Hoffenheim (5.30pm)
RB Leipzig v Bayern Munich (8.30pm)
Borussia Monchengladbach v Freiburg (10.30pm)
Sunday
VfB Stuttgart v Werder Bremen (5.30pm)
Union Berlin v Hertha Berlin (8pm)
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
The specs: 2019 Mini Cooper
Price, base: Dh141,740 (three-door) / Dh165,900 (five-door)
Engine: 1.5-litre four-cylinder (Cooper) / 2.0-litre four-cylinder (Cooper S)
Power: 136hp @ 4,500rpm (Cooper) / 192hp @ 5,000rpm (Cooper S)
Torque: 220Nm @ 1,480rpm (Cooper) / 280Nm @ 1,350rpm (Cooper S)
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 4.8L to 5.4L / 100km
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
