---
product_id: 1730768
title: "A Diamond in the Desert: Behind the Scenes in Abu Dhabi, the World's Richest City"
brand: "jo tatchell"
price: "¥5929"
currency: JPY
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 13
url: https://www.desertcart.jp/products/1730768-a-diamond-in-the-desert-behind-the-scenes-in-abu
store_origin: JP
region: Japan
---

# A Diamond in the Desert: Behind the Scenes in Abu Dhabi, the World's Richest City

**Brand:** jo tatchell
**Price:** ¥5929
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** A Diamond in the Desert: Behind the Scenes in Abu Dhabi, the World's Richest City by jo tatchell
- **How much does it cost?** ¥5929 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.jp](https://www.desertcart.jp/products/1730768-a-diamond-in-the-desert-behind-the-scenes-in-abu)

## Best For

- jo tatchell enthusiasts

## Why This Product

- Trusted jo tatchell brand quality
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## Description

Tatchell takes us on a tour of the city with an outlook that’s part native, part critic, part wide-eyed traveler. The result is a truly original collage of perspectives and images, from a regal expatriate whose husband was one of the first Brits to settle in Abu Dhabi to young Emirati artists celebrating their newfound freedom of expression. A compelling piece of history told with an intimate narrative voice, A Diamond in the Desert is an eye-opening and often haunting perspective on just how much this fascinating city has changed—and, for better or for worse, how much it has stayed the same.

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| Dimensions | 5.5 x 0.8 x 8.25 inches |
| Edition | Illustrated |
| Isbn 10 | 080217079X |
| Isbn 13 | 978-0802170798 |
| Item Weight | 9.5 ounces |
| Language | English |
| Print Length | 304 pages |
| Publication Date | October 5, 2010 |
| Publisher | Grove Press, Black Cat |

## Images

![A Diamond in the Desert: Behind the Scenes in Abu Dhabi, the World's Richest City - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81lBFBcuHzL.jpg)

## Available Options

This product comes in different **Format** options.

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ What a gem
*by  on Reviewed in the United States July 15, 2013*

I wish more people would write books like this about other parts of the world. I liked this book because it went from story to story to explain the history of Abu Dhabi. Reading it was like listening to a friend talk about their travels. The books includes a mystery, tragedy and quirky cultural perspectives.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Enjoyable and informative read
*by  on Reviewed in the United States May 15, 2016*

In the timeline of Abu Dhabi history, this book is a follow-up to M.A. Fahim's excellent eyewitness account, "From Rags to Riches."Author Jo Tatchell revisits the country where she had arrived as a child in 1974 and spent her formative years. She is in an excellent place to compare the "then" and the "now" (meaning circa 2008), having absorbed a lot of fascinating information about the early days of the oil boom from her father, who managed Spinneys, the first supermarket catering to expats. She meets with some prominent locals and old-timers who have made the capital their permanent home; they are happy to reminisce. Her efforts at gaining access to old newspapers in the National Archives, however, are somewhat less successful (partly due to the digitization process which is underway).Jo Tatchell is an excellent writer and I really enjoyed the book. Her observations are spot on and her background information appears well researched and quite accurate. Part memoir and part travelogue, with a bit of history thrown in, the book sometimes left me hungry for "more," which is a compliment as well as a complaint.In the years since the book came out (2009) a lot has happened in the United Arab Emirates. There was the global economic crisis, which hit the country late, but hard, followed by an ongoing recovery. The emirate of Abu Dhabi has proven itself to be smart and resilient in the face of this adversity, opting to become the cultural capital of the area. Here's room for a sequel.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent !
*by  on Reviewed in the United States April 17, 2013*

I read this once I had returned from the UAE and found it a most interesting story. I recommend it to all!

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*Product available on Desertcart Japan*
*Store origin: JP*
*Last updated: 2026-09-21*