I'd seen a few little reports on the Abu Dhabi fish auctions in the likes of National Geographic, but the photos shown quickly skip to the Abu Dhabi Fish Market, a wonderful place to visit in itself - but the Abu Dhabi Fish Auction happens well before the fish market opens, whilst the rest of the city sleeps in the shadow of the skyscrapers.
I stumbled down the road about 3am to find that the new Abu Dhabi bus service was true to its word running its 24 hour service, I was a lone traveler on the long and deserted roads into the city, the 4 dirham fare was a bargain for the 40 minute journey into the centre of Abu Dhabi.
A quick taxi ride later and I stood on a very dark quayside of Mina Port thinking nothing to see here, so I wandered towards some bright lighting in the distance.
![Abu Dhabi Fish Market](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8197/8184193780_0493051a96_z.jpg)
A quayside square, with dhow boats being unloaded greeted me, fishermen hurriedly unloaded and sorted fish in the glare of a few rather intense spotlights.
![IMGP2723](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8341/8199688772_74376373a2_z.jpg)
![Abu Dhabi Fish Market](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8340/8184232292_28746cfc05_z.jpg)
![Abu Dhabi Fish Market](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8349/8184184092_e553309547_z.jpg)
![Abu Dhabi Fish Market](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8067/8181424547_c5a67c5e12_z.jpg)
![Abu Dhabi Fish Market](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8064/8182234852_a9c7c3fca5_z.jpg)
All manner of fish, giant blue crabs, squid, shark, began to be laid out and iced.
![IMGP2893](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8482/8198571975_4fa7a3fb25_z.jpg)
![IMGP2754](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8490/8199659536_8c81c4e5e5_z.jpg)
![Shark at Abu Dhabi Fish Market](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8484/8189148215_8b0d7027f0_z.jpg)
![Abu Dhabi Fish Market](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8065/8189204211_2ec95bcd9e_z.jpg)
![IMGP2909](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8206/8199656162_3e9c271559_z.jpg)
![Abu Dhabi Fish Market](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8209/8189196671_4cc7f2bd04_z.jpg)
Time was marching on and the crowds began to gather by 5am
![Abu Dhabi Fish Market](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8338/8189123623_a00b9719bb_z.jpg)
![Abu Dhabi Fish Market](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8338/8184226487_32dc7b10f9_z.jpg)
![Abu Dhabi Fish Market](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8345/8184203082_43ed765085_z.jpg)
The auctioneers arrived, the younger auctioneer (centre) greeted me, firmly shook my hand with a "I trust you are well", he turned to the waiting audience of restaurateurs and traders and promptly started the auction.
![Abu Dhabi Fish Market](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8342/8181449702_9d3c24ce99_z.jpg)
![Abu Dhabi Fish Market](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8057/8184256867_d99b9e6e04_z.jpg)
![Abu Dhabi Fish Market](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8480/8181490730_c5f4b2d7b6_z.jpg)
![Abu Dhabi Fish Market](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8338/8184255482_c72f6fab64_z.jpg)
![Abu Dhabi Fish Market](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8486/8181481622_7dd015dd54_z.jpg)
![Abu Dhabi Fish Market](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8483/8181439078_89cc511470_z.jpg)
![Abu Dhabi Fish Market](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8346/8190245764_41a226a0b0_z.jpg)
![Abu Dhabi Fish Market](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8347/8190164998_8a1b8c9d1b_z.jpg)
As daylight finally arrived it was time to catch up on my sleep and I wearily left to look for a taxi home.
- All photographs, copyright Sleepyg Photography/Fragglehunter, please ask - do not steal my images
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