Arab Sheikh Carved His Name in Sand — Visible from Space Until It Mysteriously Vanished
An Arab elite shocked the world when he got his name written on the sand in the United Arab Emirates. The action raised eyebrows because the size of the name was such that it would be visible from space, Time reported. Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Hamad bin Hamdan Al Nahyan had 'HAMAD' carved out on an island named Al Futaisi.
The name had been carved over a distance of two miles, Time reported. Two letters were strategically filled with water because the tip of the first alphabet is connected to the strait that leads to the Arabian Gulf. The inscription had resulted in multiple waterways. Authorities of Al Futaisi did not interfere with the carving, because the oil Sheikh owned the island.
In 2009, the image of HAMAD was captured by satellites in space, Live Science reported.
Under normal circumstances, the letters on the sand would wash away, but that is not what happened in the case, Daily Mail reported. The workers involved in the project ensured that the letters were large enough to create waterways that absorb the encroaching tide coming towards it.
Journalist Christopher Helman believed that the project was meant to get more tourism into the island, Forbes reported. "Think of it as economic stimulus," shared Helman. "It took a lot of imported laborers from the likes of Pakistan and Bangladesh to dig those canals. And for all we know, this could be part of a grand tourism plan."
Experts speculated that despite the Sheikh's native language being Arabic, the name was carved in English so that more people could read it, Live Science reported.
Helman did not rule out the possibility of showing off in the Sheikh's case, Forbes reported. "Hamad has shown a penchant for excess in the past," Helman explained. The journalist cited the billionaire's 200 cars and other valuables.
The Sheikh has also commissioned the world's largest truck — an operational Dodge Power Wagon that is 64 times larger than the original and contains a whole apartment inside it, Live Science reported.
In 2013, the name disappeared without any explanation, The Wall Street Journal reported.