On a recent short visit to see our daughter who is working in Abu Dhabi (just one of 2,000 Irish there at present), an island on the shores of the beautiful Arabian Gulf, I was hugely impressed with what the United Arab Emirates has achieved as a country in the 40 short years since it gained independence from Britian.
It has put its natural resources to the benefit of all its people, building health and educational facilities and state-of-the-art infra-structure such as roads, offices, public amenities and telecommuncations that we can only dream about.
And before I am being accused of being an innocent abroad I am well familiar with the UAE's political structure and huge dependance on migrant labour.
But when you consider the UAE has built up a Sovereign Wealth Fund of over 1$ trillion, to date, and is looking to a future beyond its oil wealth - expected to last at least another 90 years - by investing in education, alternative energy and business and tourism sectors, it begs many questions about the Emerald isle and how we have reached this awful point in our history.
Sunset over Abu Dhabi in November.
Abu Dhabi's impressive national theatre and cultural centre and the flag pole that was up until recently the world's tallest.
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi at sunset.
Enjoying a stroll along one of Abu Dhabi's lovely beaches.
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi.
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