Dubai's First International Airport 1960s
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Dubai's First International AirportDubai's First Airport
was built in 1959 at Al Ghusais by order of the late
Ruler, Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum. Dubai had no direct air services at that time. Imperial Airways Flying Boat Services landed on Dubai Creek for an overnight stop enroute to Karachi. Their passengers slept in Sharjah for security reasons!
 Landing on SandThe original runway was made from compacted sand. Middle East Airlines (MEA) were the first to land on the 1.8 km (1.12 miles) long runway. MEA and Kuwait Airways flew De Havilland Herons and Doves into Dubai. Later they used four engined Viscounts. These bigger more powerful aircraft frequently "blew away" the runway. Sheikh Rashid eventually ordered the runway to be reconstructed with modern materials.  Original Dubai Airport TerminalThe Original Dubai Airport Terminal had minimal facilities. Not that many facilities were needed! Flights were infrequent and although flights were sometimes full, the planes did not carry large numbers of passengers. Passengers disembarked and walked across the tarmac to the Airport Terminal, providing a very hot welcome to Dubai in summer!. A solitary Immigration Officer processed passports from behind an old wooden desk and the Customs Officer checked very little. The process took minutes. Passengers could then visit two Duty Free Shops in the Terminal . Prior to around 1973 alcohol was freely available in Dubai. Passengers walked out of the Terminal to a car park (with 500 spaces) to find a taxi. No air conditioned taxis in those days!
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