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Old Bastakia


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Water Tower
Dubai's Water Towers
Dubai's Domestic Water System 1970s.
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Bastakia's Wind Towers.
Derelict Demolished Restored.
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Captain's Store
Captain's Stores.
Cameras Binoculars Smuggling.
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Chicago Beach Hotel
Chicago Beach Hotel.
Popular but Demolished.
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Clock Tower
Dubai's Clock Tower.
The Story Behind the Tower.
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Dubai's Water
Finding Water for Dubai.
Dubai's First Domestic Water System.
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First Traffic Lights
Dubai's First Traffic Lights.
They didn't work at night!.
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Sheikh Saeed's House
Sheikh Saeed's House.
Derelict prior to Restoration.
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Port Rashid Terminal Opening
Sheikh Rashid.
Opening Port Rashid Container Terminal.
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Creek Raft Race
Dubai Creek Raft Race.
First Race in 1971.
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Dubai's First Power Station
Dubai's First Power Station
Demolished
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Port Rashid
Port Rashid.
Chapter 2
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Dubai's Police
Dubai's Traffic Police.
Dealing with new Technology
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Dubai's Markets
Dubai's Markets
Before Supermarkets
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Kazan
Dubai's Kazans.
An Engineering Marvel
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Dubai Lady
Dubai's People
Shopping Dubai 1970s
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Jumeirah Beach Road
Jumeirah Beach Road
How it was in 1968
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Wadi Portrait
Wadi Portrait.
When Dubai was innocent!
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First Show Jumping
First Show Jumping
Dubai Metropolitan Hotel 1987
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Hard Rock Cafe
Hard Rock Cafe
Demolished??????
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Dubai Grand Prix
Dubai Grand Prix.
Motor Racing comes to Dubai 1981
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Al Fahidi Fort
Al Fahidi Fort.
Dubai's best Museum
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Emirates Golf Club
Emirates Golf Club.
Dubai's Premier Golf Course.
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Dubai Post Office
Dubai's Post Office.
Postal Order Process!
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Dubai Creek
Dubai's Creek
How it used to be 1963
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Dubai Defense Force
Dubai Defense Force
On Parade in Jumeirah 1972
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Dubai Country Club
Dubai Country Club
Demolished 2007
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Dubai Creek
Bait Al Wakheel
Dubai's First Office Building
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Creek Cargo Wharves
Dubai's Wharves
Where Dubai used to make its money
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Cycle Dubai
Cycle Dubai
Cycling come to Dubai
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Dubai Dirt Donksl
Dubai's Motorbike First
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Queen Elizabeth 2
Britannia in Dubai.
Queen Elizabeth 2 State Visit
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Al Maktoum Bridge
Al Maktoum Bridge
Opening 1969
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Bastakia
Bastakia
Before it was restored
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Dubai's People
Dubai's People
As they used to be
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Dubai Airport Immigration
Dubai Airport
Immigration and Customs
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Dubai's Power Station
Duba's First Power Station
Demolished!!!!
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Dubai Car Crash
Dubai's Police
Car Crash 1970s Style
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Dubai's Trade Center
Dubai's World Trade Centre
Dubai's First Hi Rise
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Dubai 1972
As it used to be!

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Fresh Water Supply in Dubai as it used to be


  • Dubai Water (by Ludwig Hejze): Installing Dubai's First Water Supply 1962
    Today Dubai expects fresh water! 40 years ago Old Dubai had NO fresh water!

    Old Dubai's water source was a pond in Karama, occasionally refreshed by rainwater. People either collected water from the pond or bought from Water Sellers who had collected water from the pond. The water was unhealthy. Cholera was an everyday risk.
    Sheikh Rashid recognised the problem and understood the need for a reliable source of fresh water. Fresh Water supply was essential if people were to be attracted to live and work in Dubai. He appointed Water Engineer Eric Tulloch to bring fresh water to Dubai. Eric ordered a water well drilled in Al Awir. Water was found about 35 meters underground. This well was linked to other water wells identified by local Bedu. He installed a 35 kilometer long pipeline to bring this fresh water to Dubai.
  • Dubai Water (by Ludwig Hejze): Fresh Water Distribution point in Old Dubai
    A 35 kilometer long pipeline brought the water from Al Awir to a distribution centre at Al Khor (top of Dubai Creek). From here it was initially distributed to the most easily reached parts of Dubai City before the network was extended to bring water to all Dubai. A pipeline was laid under Dubai Creek to bring water to Dubai.
  • Dubai Water (by Ludwig Hejze): Pump House under construction
    Pumping Stations were needed to bring the water from Al Awir to Dubai. Pumping Stations were not complex buildings, just concrete block buildings to house the pumps, pipes and valves. This Pumping Station was commissioned in 1964.
  • Dubai Water (by Ludwig Hejze): Pumping Station and Water Tanks in the Desert
    Most of the pump houses and tanks were located in desert areas. There were no roads in those days. The Landrover was an essential "workhorse" transporting goods and people across the desert. Overseas AST built the pipeline, pumping stations and tanks.
    Tanks were installed in strategic positions around Dubai. Originally their purpose was storing water for filling the water tankers that delivered water to Dubai's people. Later the tanks connected to the domestic distribution system and provided the pressure needed for the water to flow into the city.
  • Dubai Water (by Ludwig Hejze): One of Dubai's Water Tank
    The first tank was erected near to the Customs Quay (next to the Diwan Offices in Dubai today). Other tanks were located near to Al Maktoum Hospital, Al Ras and Jumeirah Beach Road. Over 90 kilometers of pipe was later installed to deliver fresh water from these tanks into homes. Most of Dubai's Domestic Water Infrastructure was installed under the supervision of Gerry Wain, a retired Fireman from Manchester UK. He came to Dubai in 1950s to sell and service fire extinguishers but became involved in Dubai's Water Department. He worked as Eric Tulloch's "right hand man" for over thirty years. He was installing Dubai's water systems until his death at over 80 years of age.
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Sheikh Rashid