Old Bastakia

Why Dubai's Jebel Ali Village was built?

Around 1977 Sheikh Rashid (then Ruler of Dubai) announced a new city, seaport and airport to be built at Jebel Ali. His intention was to bring industrial development to Dubai. He may also have had another purpose! By 1977 Sheikh Rashid was dissatisfied with the lack of progress in UAE's development since its establishment in 1971. UAE's original Constitution provided for a new Capital City to be built but there was no agreement where to build it. Sheikh Rashid's announcement maybe signaled his intention to build his own Capital City.

City to Village

Jebel Ali City's close proximity to the Abu Dhabi border and a subsequent disagreement over senior appointments to the UAE Army led to a UAE Government political crisis in the late 1970s. This was eventually resolved by Sheikh Rashid being appointed UAE's Prime Minister and Abu Dhabi being declared UAE's Capital City. Jebel Ali City and Jebel Ali Airport were not built but Jebel Ali Port was. Jebel Ali City became Jebel Ali Village.

About Jebel Ali Village

Jebel Ali Village was built to accommodate Contractors' Staff working on construction of Jebel Ali Port. Building commenced around 1977. The Village comprised around 300 villas, a primary school, recreation club, a "green" park, a medical clinic and desalination water plant to provide water. Surprisingly the Village did not have a supermarket. Residents had to drive into Dubai to buy their supplies - a long hot drive in the days when cars were not air conditioned. Only in 1980 did Choitrams Supermarket open in the Village enabling Residents to obtain supplies locally. In 1979 Jebel Ali was considered to be "out of town" with few public services. The Village became self sufficient because of location away from main stream Dubai.

Different Nationalities

Balfour Beatty was a British Company engaged as Construction Contractor for Jebel Ali Port. Stevin was a Dutch Engineering Company and Gulf Cobla a Dubai based International Dredging Company. The Village had to cater for these different Nationalities. Jebel Ali Primary School provided both British and Dutch education for the children of the many Contractors' Staff families living in the Village.

Changing Times

After Jebel Ali Port was finished the Contractors' Staff began to leave the Village. The houses were rented out at low rentals and people from Dubai moved in. Living in the Village was a cheaper than living in Dubai despite the drive to and from Dubai. Jebel Ali Free Zone growth in the 1980s and 1990s led to a further influx of Residents but the Village was not expanded. Instead other housing complexes began to grow around the Village such by the early 2000s Jebel Ali was no longer isolated. Dubai had spread outwards and Jebel Ali Village was destined to become part of New Dubai.

Sheikh Rashid