Dubai's Zabeel Palace 1965

Dubai's almost forgotten Palace.

Today Zabeel Palace is surrounded by Dubai's modern buildings. In 1965 Zabeel Palace stood alone in the desert. Zabeel Palace originally comprised three small buildings built in the late 1950s. Around 1963 Sheikh Rashid commissioned Overseas AST to build a new Zabeel Palace. Ing. Otto Bulard of Overseas AST designed and built a rectangular building linking three existing buildings to form a single complex. Ing. Bullard also designed Dubai's Clock Tower, started and managed Dubai Zoo then went on to start and manage Al Ain Zoo.

Zabeel Palace alone in the desert

Sheikh Rashid took up residence in his new Palace around 1965. He lived there for the rest of his life. He became UAE's Prime Minister but became very ill around 1985. He retired to Zabeel Palace where he remained until his death in 1990.

Note!

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, current Ruler of Dubai, has called his modern palace Zabeel Palace. This is a different palace from Sheikh Rashid's Zabeel Palace although located in the same area.