Decline and Rise of Dubai Country Club

DCC's financial difficulties had been largely overcome by end of the 1970s. Dubai's increasing expatriate population had seen DCC's membership increase dramatically. But that also brought a change in membership demographics.

DCC's members in the early days were mainly "professional expatriates" - people who had spent most of their working lives outside their home countries. They were used to setting up afresh in new and strange countries. As Dubai grew and demand for skilled and professional workers increased then more people were recruited who had never lived and worked overseas. Part of the inducement was they could bring their families with them. Demands on DCC began to change. New members wanted more and better facilities.

DCC Expansion

The Golfers had established a separate Clubhouse with their own Committee to run their affairs. This led to a "Club within a Club" situation but the financial strength and political control remained with the main Club Committee. The main Committee decided to completely redesign and rebuild the Clubhouse (but not the Golf Clubhouse) and all its facilities. They also decided to add a third Squash Court to meet the increasing demand for squash facilities. The squash court was to be built to international standards and capable of hosting international squash events. To be able to complete these ambitious projects meant obtaining further bank loans.

Changing Circumstances

DCC was born out of a lack of community facilities in Dubai for Expatriates and met a real need. By the 1980s the situation had changed. New housing complexes had been built and were continuing to be built throughout Dubai. Many were self contained communities with swimming pool, tennis courts, squash courts and sometimes a Club facility offering food and drinks. Hotels had been built that included sports complexes attached offering memberships. Expatriates in Dubai and newly arrived now had a choice. DCC was no longer the "only show in town"!

DCC's new Membership applications began to decline. DCC's Membership list shortened as Members found themselves transferred to other counties or returned to their home countries. Emirates Golf Club opened in 1989 attracting many of DCC's stalwart Golfing Members away from DCC with the prospect of playing on grass. DCC began to struggle financially in the early 1990s.

Changing Population Needs

As Dubai's Expatriate population grew there was a realisation amongst Employers that (a) Dubai had become a desirable place to live and work and (b) economic conditions outside Dubai meant employment conditions need not be so generous has they had been in the past. New arrivals now found many of the benefits enjoyed by earlier Expatriates were no longer available to them. Increasingly salaries became "all encompassing". Employees now had to fund their living expenses out of their salaries. Living allowances were a thing of the past. Also attitudes changed. Families were now content to stay in Dubai during the peak summer months. This was partly driven by shorter annual leave periods but also by economics and availability of increasing numbers of air conditioned venues. It was no longer a trial for families to remain in Dubai during the summer. One effect of this situation was Mothers needed to keep their children occupied during the school holidays. DCC offered a facility where children could play and take part in activities in a safe and secure environment. Membership of Hotel Clubs became increasingly expensive relative to salaries as did eating out at hotel restaurants. By the late 1990s DCC was again be seen by Expatriates as offering "value for money" and the membership again began to grow.

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