OLD DUBAI
From the 1940’s through to the mid 1980’s Dubai was a very different place. Life was focused around the Creek which meandered its way inland from the Arabian Gulf. Pearl divers, fishermen and traders populated the shoreline and wind-tower bedecked structures shaped the horizon. What are major conurbations today were then mere sandy streets and the simple housing had few amenities and ...moreFrom the 1940’s through to the mid 1980’s Dubai was a very different place. Life was focused around the Creek which meandered its way inland from the Arabian Gulf. Pearl divers, fishermen and traders populated the shoreline and wind-tower bedecked structures shaped the horizon. What are major conurbations today were then mere sandy streets and the simple housing had few amenities and almost certainly no air conditioning. As oil revenues began to take effect, the development around the Creek spread and the early signs of Dubai’s expansion became evident in the new commercial buildings.
Anita van der Krol lived in Dubai during her period and, through her photographs, captured important moments in the progress of the world’s most innovative City. Simple, yet beautifully observed, documents of time, the images are a glimpse into the past and a reminder of Dubai’s rich heritage. Some of the features, locations and traditions are recognizable today, others have been lost to the City’s rapid development. Whether a visitor to Dubai, or a resident of the City, Old Dubai is a journey of fascination. The progress of Dubai has been well documented but the images bring to life a recent pass – yet distant landscape.