Cement import started. Cement was cheaper than gypsum traditionally used for building construction. Traditional construction using coral stone and gypsum was soon to be replaced with ready-made cement block construction.
Naraindas Khiara opened KHIARA STORES as the first stainless steel kitchenware outlet in Dubai importing stainless steel products from India together with Plates, Glasses, Spoons, Bowls etc for which there was a high demand.
Toyota Cars introduced by Al-Futtaim Automotive.
DUBAI: 1956
Dubai Police Force founded at Naif Police Station.
Water Purification Tablets become freely available reducing but not eliminating seasonal Cholera.
DUBAI: 1957
Sheikh Rashid leases 3 bedroomed apartment above Dubai Government Garage to Oil Company as Guest House.
Indian High School (IHS)is the first expatriate educational institution to be established in Dubai. Then called Bharatiya Vidyalaya the school was built on land granted to the School by the Late Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum.
Dubai Iranian Primary School founded. Expanded to become co-ed Dubai Iranian High School. Segregated in 1980 after the Iranian revolution
Christopher Meyer from the British surveying firm Windnell & Trollope visits Dubai and reported there were twelve Europeans in Dubai: -
Political Agent Tripp (on leave)-
Assistant. Adams Agency Admin-
Gunston B.P. -
Jackson I.P.C. -
Kirkbridge and Wife -
Doctor McAuliffe -
Bank Manager King and two Assistants -
Agriculturist Huntingdon -
Police Chief Larrimer.
DUBAI: 1958
Sheikh Saeed Bin Maktoum dies. Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum becomes Ruler of Dubai aged 30.
Sheikh Rashid delivers his famous saying, ‘What is good for the merchants, is good for Dubai.’
Oil discovered in Abu Dhabi
Fort Naif chosen as a seat of Dubai's Judiciary.
Sheikh Rashid announces his intention to build an airport.
DUBAI: 1959
Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum visits UK for first time and meets Queen Elizabeth 2.
John Harris meets Donald Hawley, British Political Agent for the Trucial States during the latter’s holiday in London. This leads to John Harris’ first trip to Dubai to meet Sheikh Rashid who hires John as Dubai’s first town planner. John Harris was 38 years old.
Airline Hotel opens in Bur Dubai with 8 rooms and kerosene lighting. Later expands to 35 rooms.
Mohammad Jaafar El Sakkaf appointed Judge. Judges El Shankiti and El Khazergi resigned. El Sakkaf remained judge having jurisdiction in litigations between nationals only. Litigation involving a non national as a party came under jurisdiction of the House of the British Commissioner. These cases were examined by a panel with Sheikh Hashr Ben Hashr Al Maktoum as President, Judge El Sakkaf and an English Judge named Miller.
Dredging commenced on deepening Dubai Creek
Dubai reaches agreement for Qatar to finance and arrange major drilling project to locate sources of fresh water.
Eric Tulloch arrives to take up appointment as Chief Water Engineer.
Dubai Electricity Company established as a commercial entity.
British Air Ministry Expert surveys Jebel Ali as favoured site for new Dubai Airport. Decision is made to build in Al Ghusais as Jebel Ali is further from Dubai than Sharjah. Sharjah already has a functioning Airport.
British Political Agent's Report shows 515 pupils enrolled in schools with the number of Teachers constantly varying.
DUBAI: 1960
New Dubai Airport inaugurated by Sheikh Rashid
United Kingdom's Board of Trade issues "Hints to Business Men Visiting the Persian Gulf" which includes tips in culture, negotiations, and travel in the Arabian Peninsula.
Sheikh Rashid forms an advisory committee to approve and promote the Harris master plan. Committee comprises Bill Duff (Financial Advisor to the Ruler), Neville Allen of Halcrow and John Harris. Political Agent Donald Hawley was also involved. Simultaneously Harris is advising on hospital developments.
Nelson Rockefeller announces plans for a World Trade Center in New York City.
DUBAI: 1961
Dubai’s first central water supply system to accommodate 86,777 households is installed.
Dubai Electricity Company's first power station starts up delivering electricity to Diera.
Halcrow receives instruction from the Political Agent to begin implementation work of Harris’ master plan.
Motor Ship Dara sunk after leaving Dubai with loss of 212 passengers and 24 crew. Sinking was caused by an explosion thought to have been a Terrorist act.
British Prime Minister Edward Heath visits Dubai.
DUBAI: 1962
Sheikh Rashid begins planning work on Port Rashid. Halcrow study recommends 4 berths. Sheikh Rashid insists on 15. Ambition trumps conventional wisdom.
Dubai Electricity is now delivering power to 2,500 Customers and signing up 100 new Customers per week.
Sheikh Rashid watches football match between Dubai and USS Valcour at Shindaga. Dubai won 14-0!
DUBAI: 1963
Sheikh Rashid’s son-in-law, Ahmed bin Ali Al Thani, Ruler of Qatar, funds Dubai’s first bridge as a wedding present. Halcrow designs Al Maktoum Bridge.
Decree signed establishing National Bank of Dubai.
Dubai Petroleum Company formed. Consortium included American Continental Oil Company, Compagnie Francaise des Petroles, Repsol of Spain, RWE-DEA and Wintersall of Germany.
Sheikh Rashid visits USA. Visits Islamic Centre in New York and Desert irrigation site in Pheonix. Sheikh Rashid and sons Hamdan and Mohammed make their first visit to a racecourse at Santa Anita Racecourse.
Sheikh Rashid builds and inaugurates the Region's first multilingual Public Libray in Diera with books donated by the Merchant Community
DUBAI: 1964
Satwa and Karama now had running water in each home. These newly developed areas were the first areas to receive running water. Established areas in Dubai did not receive running water until after Satwa and Karama. Water was initially provided free of charge.
Sheikh Rashid inaugurates Dubai Branch of First National City Bank of New York.
DUBAI: 1965
First street lights are installed in city center.
Dubai Chamber of Commerce established.
Sir William Halcrow and Partners commissioned to study feasibility of a deep water Port.
DUBAI: 1966
Satwa, Karama and Al Ghusais become huge building sites as Sheikh Rashid encourages developers to build low rent housing colonies.
Sheikh Rashid donates land to Roman Catholic Mission to build St Mary's Church.
DUBAI: 1967
Work begins on constructing Port Rashid
Outbreak of Smallpox results in major medical and health reforms.
DUBAI: 1968
Harris completes his first architectural project in Dubai: the expansion of Al Maktoum Hospital, expanded from 38 to 106 beds.
Dubai Population: 59,000
Sheikh Rashid establishes the National Bank of Dubai – a key player in Dubai’s future development. Harris designs two branches. Deira branch is the tallest building in Dubai at seven stories.
Sheikh Rashid builds Ambassador Hotel in Bur Dubai with 45 rooms. Sheikh Rashid later gives the Ambassador Hotel L.R. Lulla, an Indian National, who had managed the original Guest House and Airlines Hotel.
Carlton Hotel built as commercial enterprise.
British Prime Minister Harold Wilson announces Britain's withdrawal from Gulf Region ostensibly to reduce government expenditure and provide funds for their National Health Service characterised as "Guns for False Teeth".
Work begins on Dubai's first Troposcatter TeleCommunication Station at Jebel Ali.
DUBAI: 1969
During visit to the Ruler’s Majlis, John Harris witnesses the presentation of a ‘jam jar full of oil’ to Sheikh Rashid. Oil is finally tapped. Full throttle with hospitals, schools, and a more ambitious master plan.
Shortage of cement causes crisis within construction industry. Project in Satwa, Karama and Al Ghusais are affected. Sheikh Rashid buys 3,000 tons of cement from Bombay to alleviate crisis.
5,600 pupils now enrolled in 10 schools with 231 Teachers
DUBAI: 1970
Port Rashid opens informally when mv Dwarka arrives at Berth 3, the first deep sea commercial vessel to use Port Rashid.
Gamul Abdul Nasser President of Egypt dies. Al Nasr Square was named in his honour.
Len Chapman and Family arrive in Dubai 31st March 1971
Declaration signed on December 2nd establishing the United Arab Emirates
