Old Bastakia
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Old Bastakia
Tim recalls his life in Dubai as it used to be and contributes family photos from that time. These old photos have been restored and now shown publicly for the first time....
"We went to Dubai in 1964. Our first apartment was close to Al Nasr Square in sight of Jashanmal's shop. After a year we returned to UK then came back to Dubai in 1968. This time we lived at Apartment 10 Sheikh Ahmed Buildings on the Creekside in Deira. This was home until 1971. I have great memories of that time.
Shopping was nearly all done at Spinney's near Jashanmals in Al Nasr Square. Spinneys later opened a supermarket at Jumeirah which we went to often. We also visited the Soukhs, Vegetable Market on Dubai side and the Fish Market (crossing Dubai Creek by Abra) as well as Dubai Lebanese Trading Company and Al Nasr Novelty Stores. I have a love for cameras and photography which began in visiting Dubai's camera shops. They always had the latest Japanese products. Jashanmals was a favourite of ours. Shareen Jashanmal went to our school and was in my brother's class.
Our social life was marvelous! I recall going to many parties with Americans, British and Germans etc. Alcohol was available if you got a licence from Gray Mackenzie Shipping Agent. We watched movies at an open air cinema run by Dubai Petroleum Company on Jumeirah Beach Road. I saw The Sound of Music, Fantasia, the Blue Max and Fraulein Doktor. One night there was a massive bang and the movie was stopped. A pick up truck had run into the back of a truck parked outside the cinema. I saw the passengers' legs and arms hanging over the side of the truck before my Mother dragged me away. We also watched movies in the open air cinema at the Bustan Hotel (saw M*A*S*H* there). We occasionally went to an Indian cinema across the road from our apartment plus RAF Sharjah also had a cinema.
Abras were a favourite of mine. I loved the smoky engines and the smell and sound they made. We used a rowing Abra but I always preferred the big wide Abras with the big engines. We had a company Landrover which I absolutely loved though the seats were unbelievably hot to sit on when it had been parked outside. We also had a white Peugeot and Dad bought a Ford Zephyr 4 which he had sprayed white to reflect the sun and keep it cool (no airconditioning in cars then). I loved the local taxis, Toyota Simcas with red interiors and plastic coverings to protect the seats and white walled tyres.
We had many good times in Sharjah with the RAF. Our Cub Scout Pack once camped out there. RAF guys let us play in their Saladdin or Saracen armoured cars. We also used to go out in the desert at night time with food. I remember driving in a huge white Mercedes car with red leather seats owned by Gerhard Troche, one of the Bristow pilots who later became Sheikh Mohammed's personal pilot."
Tim grew up in Dubai between 1964 and 1971. His father, a Helicopter Engineer, and his family moved to Dubai when Bristow Helicopters began operating from Dubai Creek to support of Dubai's new Oil operations. They set up home in a Deira Apartment overlooking Dubai Creek and across the road from Dubai's Sahara Club. Their apartment provided easy access to Deira and Dubai Creek.
Tim attended Dubai English Speaking School and regularly spent time with his schoolfriends at Dubai's old Al Bustan Hotel. They drove their trusted Landrover across sandy tracks to Khan Creek in Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and Jumeirah Beach. Bristow Helicopters later relocated to Dubai's new (then) Airport where Tim's father photographed the jet passenger aircraft starting to call at Dubai.
Tim's first home in Dubai.
Dubai Creek before land reclamation and construction of creekside retaining walls.
Dhows moored alongside the road. Later this landside area would be reclaimed and extended for new development, car parking facilities and park areas.
Combined Bands of Dubai Police and newly formed Dubai Defense Force parade through Deira.
Combined Bands of Dubai Police and Dubai Defense Force parade through Deira. On left is a Gulf Mills van. Each evening these vans parked around town to sell fresh bread. There were few convenient bakeries where residents could buy bread. Queuing for bread was a regular evening activity for all Dubai and Deira's residents.
Combined Dubai Police and Dubai Defense Force Bands parade through Deira. This photo shows the rarely photographed Sahara Club (top left). Sahara Club was Dubai's first "Exclusive" Club providing its members with live entertainment, alcohol and gourmet (?) food. Its rival "The Oasis" was located across the road approximately where the photographer will have stood to take this photo. The Oasis was not quite so exclusive as the Sahara Club!
Sheikh Rashid was very proud of his Royal Dhow. Zaabil was frequently used for journeys to other Gulf States as well as entertaining guests.
A friendly rivalry developed between Sheikh Rashid and the Ruler of Qatar over whether Zaabil was faster the Qatar Royal Yacht Naief. A challenge was laid as to which Yacht could sail from Dubai and arrive in Bashir in Iran first. Sheikh Rashid knew Zaabil was slower than Naief so he gave instructions Zaabil was to secretly sail from Dubai during the night to gain a head start. Qatar's Ruler knew Sheikh Rashid well. When Zaabil tried to sneak out of Dubai Creek in the early hours of the morning, Naief was already postioned at the mouth of the Creek. Who won is not recorded in Dubai's records!
Coastal Cargo ships were regular visitors to Dubai Creek carrying export cargos to neighbouring States.
Dhows were the primary means of exporting cargos from Dubai to surrounding States. Engines now supplemented sail with sails generally only being used once the Dhow was clear of the mainland.
Exact location is not known but photo shows Windtowers were a common feature in Dubai and not just Bastakia.
Building and its location is not known. Building could be in a nearby Emirate.
Photo is taken from Deiraside looking towards Zabeel. Final construction work appears to be continuing on the bridge structure. Sheds and Jetties were for cement storage used in building the new Dubai. Dubai's Law Courts are today located on this site.
Dhow building was a major activity in the 1960s and 70s. Dubaiside of the upper reaches of Dubai Creek was devoted to Dhow building.
DESS had relocated from its original location on the beach (where Port Rashid is today) to its current location. The number of pupils was small but would soon grow as more Expatriates arrived in Dubai. Education was provided until children reached 10 years of age. Further education usually meant overseas Boarding Schools. Dubai College eventually filled this educational gap.
Soukhs in Dubai held a fascination for young and old.
Christmas was celebrated widely among Dubai's small (then) Christian Community. Dubai's Merchants joined in the Christmas spirit by decorating their Stores in the hope of attracting Customers on the look out for Christmas presents. Here "Father Christmas" visits Dubai English Speaking School to distribute gifts. The children seem to be in Fancy Dress with one young pupil (with the red head dress) dressed as a Trucial Oman Scout.
Al Bustan Hotel near Dubai Airport was one of the few places where European Expatriates could relax. It had the only accessible swimming pool so became a favourite with exaptriate families. It was subsequently demolished and replaced with a new Bustan Hotel.
Bristow Helicopters established a Helipad next to the entrance to Dubai Creek. Their helicopters supported Dubai's newly established offshore oil industry flying men and materials to and from the offshore rigs and platforms. Here a Westland Whirlwind takes off fitted with floats in case of an emergency landing on water.
Bristow's Helipad in Shindaga had minimal facilities.
Bristow's Westland Whirlwind is parked at the Helipad facing out to sea. One of British India Shipping Line ships can be seen between the helicopter's floats. The ship will have anchored offshore where people and cargo were discharged and brought ashore to Dubai in barges and small boats.
This helicopter crashed at the head of Dubai Creek. Tim's Father was the Helicopter Engineer who dealt with the aftermath.
Helicopters were new to Dubai in 1964 but traditional forms of transport could still be useful! Here Tim's Father takes a Donkey Ride back to base.
Tom and his brother play in the sand alongside Khan Creek. Khan Creek was popular with Expatriates living in Deira. Al Maktoum Bridge had not yet opened so travelling to Jumeirah was difficult and lengthy. Khan Creek could be accessed easily from Deira by Landrover and provided a safe and secure area for families to relax.
Khan Creek was an idyllic location with clear and shallow water, clean sand and an "away from it all" environment. Landrovers were essential!
Ras Al Khaimah was easily accessible from Deira. A new tarmac road funded by the Kuwait Government meant the journey was only about 2 hours. Ras Al Khaimah had a very small Expatriate population and amenities were few. But accommodation was usually a small villa surrounded by open land and a clear view of the mountains. Tim and his family frequently drove to RAK to spend a weekend with Italian friends working wfor Khansaheb Construction Company on a road construction project.
There wasn't a lot to do in RAK except relax and enjoy the idyllic surroundings. In the late 1970s RAK Government allowed a hotel to open a Casino - the region's first and only Casino - in an effort to attract Exaptriates to travel to RAK.
Jumeirah Beach was accessible from Deira although it involved a drive by Landrover around the head of Dubai Creek. Here Tim's family enjoy the sea and sand. They were probably the only people on the beach!
Tim's Father and his friend and colleague John enjoyed relaxing in the sea and Dubai Creek. There no Creek seawalls in 1964 and the sides of Dubai Creek were beachlike. John couldn't swim but would venture out into the water until it was chest high. He did so one day at the entrance to Dubai Creek was caught in a tidal rip and swept out to sea. Tim's father attemped to rescue John but got into difficulties himself and had to be rescued and resuciated by an Oil Worker from the Southern Drilling Company. John drowned. He was 21 years old.
Bristow Helicopters relocated to Dubai Airport. By 1978 large jetliners were regularly flying into Dubai. Here a Pakistan International Airways Boeing 707 has landed and about to discharge passengers and cargo.
Trans Mediterranean Airline was (and is) a Lebanese Cargo Airline. TMA flew into Dubai between 1967 and 1970. Here a Douglas DC6 discharges at the old Cargo Terminal at Dubai Airport. Dubai's Control Tower can be seen behind the aircraft. The Control Tower exists today but no longer functions as a Control Tower. It can be seen from some locations in the Cargo Village.
BOAC VC10s flew regularly into Dubai via Beirut and Bahrain. Note the passenger or crew member (on the left) carrying his bags across the open tarmac. During the summer months this would be a long and hot walk. The aircraft offered no respite from the heat and humidity since often its air conditioning would not be turned on until after the plane had taken off.
Dubai's development and construction projects attracted workers from around the region. Mohammed was an Omani Labourer working for Bristow Helicopters. He became friendly with Tim's Father who took his family to visit Mohammed and his family on several occasions.
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