What was dubai like when you first arrived? When did you first arrive?

1988. Worked in Tawam Hospital. I will always remember driving from Al Ain along the "highway" at night and watching for the first sign of Dubai, the lighted flare off on the right and then the Trade Centre slowly shimmered into sight, lit up like a Crimbo tree. We would know that we had made it safely. No lamp lights along the road and many, many camels. Al Ghurair centre for shopping, Pancho Villa, The George and Dragon and The Red Lion for entertainment and I mean just getting there crossing the two lanes to get to it! Free beach at 100 villas. And Shep, you reminded me of ordering wine in a restaurant in Ajman that would arrive in a teatop as "special tea". Spinneys was exotic and Choitrams the mainstay for all our grocery needs. Sigh, such fun.

We arrived in June 1978, I was 4 month pregnant....no private hospitals. We were in Sharjah. No shopping malls, shj Dubai road was a long strech dual carriageway with no lights, sand one side and the sea the other...Only arabic TV channel 33 started in November from 4pm onwards. We had to move our TV arial if we wanted to change channels, no English newspapers at the begigning just 2 sheets of paper in purple ink one sheet with news and the other some adds. The highlight of the week was a trip to Spinneys to buy a loaf of slice bread ( sunbest brand) that was very expensive ( 9dhs!!) as it was imported. A few years later we had Al Ghurair center and Al NAsr Leasurland that was a big hit with the kids... I think life was a lot easier than now... We were here during the 1st Gulf War ..that was scarry at the beginning but we made it.

I got here in 2004 and its changed loads since then! Love reading about how it used to be, and wish I had seen it for myself!

I'm loving this thread. Really nice to read about your experiences. I came here in 2002 and a lot has changed since then. I call this place my home now; with all it's ups and downs and little perks. I love it!

I came in 98, things were so much less hectic, people were friendly, work was really well paid and I felt it was more honest here then. I still like it here but look back on the old days with nostalgia, things moved so quickly here it was as if I blinked and it all changed! Oh and I miss the summer sales where you actually got amazing bargains on good stuff not just the junk shops want to get rid of. And food costing a whole lot less too!

Came to Dubai in Janurary 1997. Was cold, windy and wet. What a shock! Would go every weekend to the beach where the RoyalMirage is now and we would be the only family there. A beautiful empty beach with clear water and full of stingrays that would scuttle off when you went into the water. Small Spinneys in Jumeriah was small and friendly, you would always meet someone you knew. The only toy shops were Dadibi (sp!) and magudys. Dadibi was at the side of the SZR, you would just park at the side of the road to get to the shop. It really was a small friendly town. Great fun

10 years ago and not much was here. No Marina, JBR, Sports City, etc. Driving through the sand to get to another road was the norm and no one cared. People were friendlier and the place was quieter. We watched Mall of the Emirates being built during school runs. One day we saw about 20 workers walking along the ski hill carrying a piece of the metal roof. No safety equipment, flip flops etc. Dubai Mall sounded silly as we had Ibn Batuta, City Centre and this new Mall of the Emirates being built. Oh ya and Oasis Centre 2.0 Half of the hotels/JBR weren't there. There used to be a lagoon to swim in and run your dogs by the Sheraton. No one cared and lots of dogs were there. Coming out to Arabian Ranches seemed like you were half way to Oman. It's nice here but we prefer old Dubai. I would have loved to have been here even earlier though when Trade Centre was the tallest building.

My family and I came over in 1988. I was 5years old. I will always remember how my uncle took us straight off the plane to Al Ghurair Center at 9pm. He so wanted us to like it here and wanted to show my parents how civilised Dubai was. :) For the first 6months we lived in a hotel on the Deira Creek- my mom wasn't too happy about Dubai and she thought that not getting a place meant the move wasnt permenant.;) Eventually she came to love it, as we all did. Life was so simple- only one shopping mall (Al Ghurair), one kids' play area (Sindibad @ Al Ghurair), and the best beaches (Jumeriah Beach Park). Anywhere after Jumeirah was too far-never could convince my dad to take us to chicago beach:(. the fruits and vegetables market were a fantastic adventure, as were the Gold and Spice souks. Public parks were our playgrounds, and my parents never shied away from going to them- even in the heat of summer. U name the park and i've been there;).

What a great thread! I wonder if the mods could sticky it as it's nice to read about Dubai from people who have been there from way back.

No floating bridge, no Business Bay, No Marina ( always said i wouldnt live there and did) SZR was three lanes wide used to take me an hour to get from Wafi over Garhoud Bridge. Not many people went to Brunches. Everyone went to the IV or Old Barasti nightclub was CHI/IBO before CHI closed, opened, closed opened and IBO was knocked down for the Metro. Everyone used to go to DD for brunch as it was 80AED! I found people to be nicer. None of the arrogance and shallowness there is now. It felt more of an ex pat community when i went out as i always knew someone in a bar or club. Shopped at DCC ( still my fave mall)

Arrived in the UAE in 1987. We lived in Sharjah then and that was the more "happening" place. Moved to Dubai 2 years later- Let's just say SZR wasn't as wide as it is now and you could see camels as you drove along it.

KellsBells’ story reminds a lot when I arrived here – used to live in the Golden Sands and sometimes it took 2hrs to drive there from Internet City in the evening; the big Ikea sign was next to home! Jumeirah Beach Park had ladies days on Saturdays and later I used to go next to Hilton in JBR – fantastic being basically the only person there… Nights out in Hard Rock Café or old Barasti – all inclusive buffets at the Meridien Village Terrance. I usually went shopping to Deira City Centre on Fridays, it was fantastic when the Spinneys was opened in Marina (2004?). I still like Dubai a lot but those were the days…

DH first out here 1976 - I joined him after we married in 1978 (havent been here continually - back and forth) One of my early memories was the first apartment we staying in having a problem with smells from the drains so DH thought it would be good idea to lift cover in kitchen and pour down bleach - disturbing a cockroach nest into the bargain - was quite a shock never having seen a cockroach in my life before that. Also remember the very ineffectual box ACs in each room - and having to do housework in very little clothing We lived in Sharjah - it wasnt dry then - only became so after they had to borrow money from Saudi. No malls so great excitement when the Blue Souk opened and we had some shops to browse - just as they are now but that was a bonus to us. Remember buying bootleg music cassettes and betamax videos there. Only one Spinneys - also used to shop at the fish and fruit/veg souks Wrote letters home to UK - no emails in those days We lived in the "Mothercat" building - presume its where the Mothercat roundabout is now - think I can pick it out but all so different now Each Friday would waterski and chill out at the Creek - or the Holiday Inn in Sharjah - or we had the "Expats Club" - very basic but everyone went there Friday evenings for outdoor disco. Thats if the guys got the Friday off - sometimes only half a day and definitely no Saturdays off Remember my first Ramadan here and drinking beer out of a teapot with teacups at the Holiday Inn in Sharjah Taxis were a nightmare - any old ramshackle vehicle - often bedecked with tassles and ornately decorated inside - no meters so a lot of haggling and they would try and pick up more passengers as they went along - would often see taxis with half a dozen people crammed in the back - and they would be surprised if you waved them away Visiting Dubai was a big adventure - Trade Centre in the middle of desert and the tallest building around Hyatt with the revolving restaurant was a novel experience SZR only two lanes each side and people would run across Club out in the desert (not sure if it was Country Club or Rugby Club) would have live acts - remember seeing Billy Connelly -and others but forget who (Rod Stewart??????) oh for a better memory Also dinner theatre - would have meal and watch performance - usually comedies and Brian Rix was usually in them - think he organised them We would have nights out to Metropolitan - the Red Lion - was in the middle of nowhere and we couldnt understand why it was built so far back from the SZR - obviously someone realised that would need extra lanes at some point Remember feeling very adventurous when we had weekend trek out to the East Coast and over to Khor Fakkan - proper mountain roads then not like the highways today and yes we did visit Dubai Zoo - well in our defence it was one of the few attractions around

It was 1987 and SZR had only 3-4 buildings :) No malls, Chinese 1 Dollar shops..... mmmmm..... it was very different..... the last 10 years Dubai has grown so much :)

When I first came to Dubai they were laying the grass at Emirates Golf Club and it felt like a day trip down Sheik Zayed Road - there were also a couple of camels on the SZR! It took us hours and hours to get to Fujeirah for lunch and it turned into a whole day out!

Thanks for pointing this thread out to me simpleasabc. I arrived in 2002, so not as early as some but I have still seen some HUGE changes. One of which i mentioned the other day to DH...our nearest Spinneys (we're in Mirdif) was in Bur Dubai and to get there - if you planned it right, would take you 20 minutes and if you planned it wrong could take you nearly 2 hours - YES, just to get there. The traffic was crazy. I worked in Jumeirah and there was no Bussiness Bay...a trip home would take up to 2 hours in the evenings...I'd even discovered going on the l Ain road all the way round and up to DSO and come through academic city...which doesnt seem so bad now it's all developed but at that time I was basically driving out into the desert just to miss the traffic. The main malls were Burjuman and Deira City Center. I remember the excitement around the opening of Ibn Batutta and MOE and watching the ski slope grow everytime I drove down SZR. Which was NOTHING like it is now. I remember going to Ibn Batutta for the first time and thinking we had gone to far as we'd seen nothing but desert for such a long time. I remember when Global Village was where Festival City is now. I remember when 300dhs was a big shop at Spinneys, not just a few bags. For those who live in Mirdif - I rememeber when there was nothing but desert where the Shorooq villas are now. There was a HUGE sand dune and the locals would park their 4x4's and light a bonfire on the top of the dune most nights. We really were in the middle of the desert...and that wasnt that long ago either. Dubai has changed a heck of a lot, and I wish I could say for the better as this is certainly the tone of this thread...but I really do MISS the good ol' Dubai days.

The compound under the Madinat was called Chicago Beach Village - remember many great parties, bbq's there. Further up the road where the Palm is used to be '100 villas' with free access to the open beach. Remember having a bbq there one night when all our family were over visiting (to celebrate our wedding) and the police came along to check we weren't burning a body!

I remember when driving up from Abu Dhabi on the highway that consisted of 1.5 lanes because the trees over hung and you couldnt drive in half of the lane, with all the speed bumps as they were upgrading the road as you see it now. Also the first "big" building was the Hard Rock Cafe, before they dug the whole in the ground later to become the Marina and all the big buildings going up on Sh. Zayed road. The highest building was the Trade Centre "in the middle". The lovely compound that has now disappeared under the Madinet on the beach road. The building of the Burj was quite something. All the Abu residents had to drive 3 hours to get to Dxb, and go shopping at Deira City Centre when Ikea opened etc as there was not much else.

Wow, norak, that`s amazing!

This thread is such a lovely idea and such a nice change. It reminds me of a saying: En Afrique un vieillard qui meurt est une bibliotheque qui brule. Which could be translated as: In Africa when an old men dies, a library burns. Not to say at all that you ladies are old but you hold the memory of this land ... and it's lovely to hear (read) about it. Thank you.

When we arrived in early 1993, the Trade Center was the tallest building around. Most people lived in the Dierra/Bur Dubai area, and the beach road was just a 2-lane strip with sand down the middle. There wasn't too much to speak of on Sk Zayad Rd. The only buildings were the residences near the Trade Tower, Holiday Inn was just built, and then a few buildings further down the road like the white apt. building at the Defense R/A. There wasn't too much past that. I remember driving down Al Wasl Rd. and there was nothing until you got to UmSuqeem, and then just a few houses. Roads were there, but everything else was sand. To drive to a business, you usually had to drive on sand as no buildings would be finished with parking or curbs etc. My usual shopping was to the "big" co-op in Bur Dubai on the Trade Center Road. I remember looking up and all you could see in the distance was the Trade Center. At that time, you had to pay for the groceries separately. You'd pay the vegetable man, the meat man, and then the checkout for can goods, dairy, etc. There was no where near the variety available as well. All the basics were here, and you cooked from scratch for everything. In fact, I know I became a better cook because you had no choice. The American grocery used to be in Wafi Mall (assume it was Safeway--can't remember.) I remember the very first Dubai Shopping Fest. It was held mostly on the Dierra Creek side and Al Rigga Street was the place to be. It was so busy with people walking, kiosks, eating out, and traffic bumper to bumper. I remember Creekside Park opening and it was so "bare." The trees were very small, but you could tell it was going to be beautiful. The fireworks for the Shopping Fest were really "over the top". We would sit at the Creekside Park and the fireworks would go on forever -- and occassionally a few embers were fall on us. I remember the "concept" of returning something was unheard of. The first time I attempted they literally looked at me like I was from another planet. I got my return, but it was from pure shock I think. Not too many people spoke English well, and most shopkeepers were men. Therefore, if you wanted to buy bras/underwear, it was a man would would serve you. It was years before I would buy underwear here. I remember the talk of building the Burj Al Arab -- it was a so out there because it was going to be built on an island in the water. At the same time, it was sad as that was our favorite swimming area. The only English movie theatre was the one by the soccer clubs in the American Hospital/Lamcy area (not the cinema there next to Lamcy). It was always so crowded, but you could bring in your own food and popcorn. It was incredible what people would bring in -- pots of food for the whole family. No assigned seats, so you had to keep the family together and run when they opened the doors. Off hand, this is what I kind of remember most. Interesting thread.

First arrived at the beginning of 1982 - so very different then. Sheikh Zayed road was just two lanes each way with a sandy strip down the middle with no buildings on either side. The driving was just as chaotic though, but somehow managed to learn how to drive here. Had previously lived in Doha and Cairo, and Dubai was considered to be a much better place to live and shop although there were non of the big stores or malls here then.

That's really cool... love reading childhood memories... especially ones so different as these. ;)

You are making me feel nostalgic!

I was dragged up here in 1976 - 1980.. When we were here it was full of sand dunes that we used to play in and the build has already started - we used to stop the lifts mid floors ... pull open the doors and scramble out ... amazing none of us were killed mucking around my sister was flashed at my some old man in his car .. she was always a fan of opal fruits .. And no ..I know thats not very funny but we laugh about it now .. We used to play with opal fruits on the marble stairs _ squish them up like playdough and make islands out of them with trees and green cows ... that was before the man with the snake .. Porky the p1g (cartoon ) was banned .. it used to come on then they used to cut it out and play a mosque image on the screen .. there were rats EVERYWHERE ... Huge big things .. and MASSIVE cockroaches .. and a man called khalil who used to kick his pregnant dog She was a golden lab who lived outside and we used to take her into our apartment and feed her .. we put drawing pins under his front door mat and used to play knock and run ..he stood on the doormat .......we got into trouble for that one .... ! We left when our step mum was pregnant with our brother and went back to the uk as our dad is in the oil industry .. hes been here for over 34 years .. I can remember getting a burnt bottom off the back of the truck we used to drive around in - the three of us used to get into the back - Open back truck and stand up whilst our Dad drove around like a lunatic ..... and PEZ sweets were all the rage - you could tilt the head back of the animal and a brick shaped sweet would pop out of its mouth .. BA was fun to fly with - your meal was on a TV tray .. like the old american tv dinners .. The Hostesses were kind and we used to be able to go into the cockpit .. the only thing thats remained the same is the sea ...and the smell of the bread cooking in the markets ... i swear thats why i have a fascination with warm bread .... all of the shops were similar to satwa .. no D&G or harvey nics here then .... just remembered ... when we went back to the uk - were were a TOTALLY different colour to anyone in our schools - we were maple syrup colour ...we are all pasty white now .. but with a bit of a tan - my middle sister is 2 years older then the elder sister is another year ahead of the middle one .. we were STARED at when we first went into school - back then we used to be able to speak a bit of arabic I remember the kids used to try and wash/scrub my arms in the play house ..spent years applying fake tan in my teens.... used to drive my step mother nuts ...... LOL ... And I lOVE it here ... I feel like I have come home ! edited by bowbellscowbells on 25/06/2011 <em>edited by bowbellscowbells on 25/06/2011</em>