West Africa Sahara Desert Cultural Heritage

The Sahara wasn’t always a desert — 7,000 years ago it was a savannah where grasslands and animals thrived. Eventually the weather changed; the rain slowed, then stopped, and the desert took over.

 When Michal Huniewicz was getting ready to visit Mauritania, he found an old book on West Africa, and within the pages he found something that caught his eyes: The Forgotten Libraries of the Sahara, part of a town, Chinguetti, that was a 17th-century hub.

 “What could be more romantic?” asked Huniewicz. When Michael arrived, he found what felt like a ghost town, though 4,000 people live there, and there are librarians who will still show you the old books housed in the libraries.

 See these ancient and forgotten treasures that lie in the middle of the African Sahara and the unique history they reveal.

Al Barari Luxury Living Dubai

Al Barari, a unique and ground-breaking eco-friendly residential community in Dubai, a vision of an exceptional botanic haven, unrivalled in its ecological sensitivity, has been realised by the passionate founder and chairman, Mr. Zaal Mohammed Zaal. It is this vision that continues to propel Al Barari to keep discovering and become the benchmark for sustainable luxury in the region.

As Dubai grew and developed, so too did Al Barari. This new way of living encompasses 217 wondrous villas, a gourmet restaurant, a state-of-the art health club, and the region's largest privately-owned plant nursery. Eighty percent of the 4.2-million-square-foot development is made up of green, lush space, beautiful themed gardens, naturally landscaped lakes and freshwater streams.

With the exclusive Al Barari estate flourishing, it is time for another chapter in the unfurling story of Al Barari Dubai to be unveiled. This includes Ashjar, Seventh Heaven, a luxury boutique resort, and much more that will be sheltered by lush forests and set within an exuberant community.

With over 80% of Al Barari dedicated to seemingly endless greenery, this green heart of Dubai consists of over 325 acres with 1,800 different kinds of plants. Al Barari features 6 themed gardens, namely the Mediterranean, Balinese, Water, Renaissance, Contemporary and Woodland Garden.

Al Barari is pioneering in environmental management strategies to integrate sustainability throughout the entire community, from engineering design and construction, to composting, water polishing and recycling. Al Barari aims to not only minimise its local impact, but to enhance the regional environment and bring about careful ecological restoration.

A commitment to sustainability and responsible eco-conscience development means that Al Barari's architecture, landscaping and infrastructure actively embrace good environmental practice.