AsoRock From Bahrain, joined May 2006, 318 posts, RR: 0 Posted (3 years 5 months 2 weeks 4 days 15 hours ago) and read 18883 times:
| find the below pictures extremely fascinating. It probably shows the arrival of inaugural MEA flight from Beirut to Dubai.
As you can see, not long ago the airport terminal was, well, a shed!!!! It's been said that at the time of opening the airport, locals were wondering about the need of having 'yet another airport' so close to Abu Dhabi! They thought Dubai's ruler was nuts basically.
Arrival of MEA inaugural flight in Dubai?
MEA 'air hostesses', anybody notices something funny?
Anybody can estimate or find out about the exact date?
Jayeshrulz From India, joined Apr 2007, 1000 posts, RR: 4 Reply 1, posted (3 years 5 months 2 weeks 4 days 15 hours ago) and read 18833 times:
amazing pics.
These pics are of the late 1960's when the infra just started building up and oil was discovered...
nice ones btw!!
IIRC, SQ and BA flew DXB with their 747's in the late 70's right?
there is a pic of BA and SQ here in A.net...in DXB.
Fly-K From Germany, joined May 2000, 3120 posts, RR: 53 Reply 2, posted (3 years 5 months 2 weeks 4 days 14 hours ago) and read 18614 times:
More nice pictures like these can be found in Graeme Wilson's books on Emirates and Dubai Airport (they also feature many photos taken by a.net photogs).
Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been...
QatarA340 From Qatar, joined May 2006, 1602 posts, RR: 7 Reply 3, posted (3 years 5 months 2 weeks 4 days 13 hours ago) and read 18588 times:
Quoting AsoRock (Thread starter): As you can see, not long ago the airport terminal was, well, a shed!!!! It's been said that at the time of opening the airport, locals were wondering about the need of having 'yet another airport' so close to Abu Dhabi!
Actually, the locals thought it was nuts building another airport close to the much more superior Sharjah Airport which was the main airport in the UAE. Imagine!
AirIndia From United Arab Emirates, joined Jan 2001, 1546 posts, RR: 1 Reply 6, posted (3 years 5 months 2 weeks 4 days 13 hours ago) and read 18403 times:
According to this page, MEA inaugurated services to Dubai in 1966. However the book which contains this photo says that in September 1961, Sheikh Rashid of Dubai and Sheikh Ahmed Al Thani of Qatar wrote to MEA, stating a case of strengthened links with Lebanon. A few weeks later, MEA listed a new weekly Beirut-Doha-Dubai-Doha-Beirut service. The 75-seater Viscount had 75 seats, and had high load factors, frequently arriving in Beirut without an empty seat.
Jfk777 From United States of America, joined Aug 2006, 7348 posts, RR: 7 Reply 8, posted (3 years 5 months 2 weeks 4 days 9 hours ago) and read 17714 times:
Dubai you have come a LONG way in 50 years. Would love to see a 1978-80 picture of 747's refueling.
MadameConcorde From San Marino, joined Feb 2007, 10243 posts, RR: 40 Reply 10, posted (3 years 5 months 2 weeks 4 days 8 hours ago) and read 17399 times:
Good find, thank you for posting. Definitely early 60's maybe even late 50s, by looking at the aircraft, good old MEA.
There was a better way to fly it was called Concorde
UK_Dispatcher From United Arab Emirates, joined Dec 2001, 2550 posts, RR: 33 Reply 11, posted (3 years 5 months 2 weeks 4 days 6 hours ago) and read 17041 times:
Quoting AirIndia (Reply 6): Yes, the air hostess's legs (knees) have been blacked out to keep it in accordance to the local laws about skirts.
Such laws stilll exists in Sharjah but not in Dubai.
Even in Abu Dhabi (not sure about Dubai) there are people who go through women's magazines with a black marker pen and scribble over legs, etc. I couldn't believe it when someone showed me! I once wondered why there was white tape over a box of Special K I bought - then I realised there was the shape of a woman on the box underneath. Naturally my eyes rolled when I realised.
Directorguy From Egypt, joined Jul 2008, 1569 posts, RR: 12 Reply 12, posted (3 years 5 months 2 weeks 4 days 3 hours ago) and read 13368 times:
Quoting UK_Dispatcher (Reply 11): Even in Abu Dhabi (not sure about Dubai) there are people who go through women's magazines with a black marker pen and scribble over legs, etc. I couldn't believe it when someone showed me! I once wondered why there was white tape over a box of Special K I bought - then I realised there was the shape of a woman on the box underneath. Naturally my eyes rolled when I realised.
Quite common in that part of the world-in Saudi, every single book/magazine was censored that way. Must've taken an army to do that job. And for a male, can be quite fun :P
Skyguy From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 461 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (3 years 5 months 2 weeks 4 days 2 hours ago) and read 12863 times:
Quoting Jayeshrulz (Reply 1): These pics are of the late 1960's when the infra just started building up and oil was discovered...
nice ones btw!!
Dubai never had any meaningful oil discoveries to speak of. Abu Dhabi did. Dubai was and still is a major trading hub and port.
"Those who talk, do not know, and those who know, do not talk."
Anshuk From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2009, 480 posts, RR: 0 Reply 18, posted (3 years 5 months 2 weeks 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 9377 times:
Quoting KU747 (Reply 17): In less than 30 years DXB became the biggest hub in the gulf and the middle east. They put themselves on the map. Everyone talks about EK and DXB.
And to think they started off by leasing a plane from PIA. Goes to show how nothing is impossible as long as the will to succeed exists.
Lightsaber From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 10690 posts, RR: 100 Reply 19, posted (3 years 5 months 2 weeks 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 9044 times:
It is interesting thinking about DXB pre-EK. When people ask about airline growth, realize that most of the growth will be in areas that have little service today.
Quoting AsoRock (Thread starter): As you can see, not long ago the airport terminal was, well, a shed!!!! It's been said that at the time of opening the airport, locals were wondering about the need of having 'yet another airport' so close to Abu Dhabi! They thought Dubai's ruler was nuts basically.
I'd call it better than a 'shed,' but the facilities are nothing compared to today! Wow, what a change.
Quoting QatarA340 (Reply 3): Actually, the locals thought it was nuts building another airport close to the much more superior Sharjah Airport which was the main airport in the UAE. Imagine!
Wow... a will and a way.
Quoting Rleiro (Reply 9): This one is also interesting, from 1979:
I380North From United States of America, joined Feb 2009, 117 posts, RR: 0 Reply 20, posted (3 years 5 months 2 weeks 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 9020 times:
Quoting Anshuk (Reply 18): And to think they started off by leasing a plane from PIA.
Wonder what PIA is thinking now?
Quoting KU747 (Reply 19): Quoting Anshuk (Reply 18):
And to think they started off by leasing a plane from PIA. Goes to show how nothing is impossible as long as the will to succeed exists.
Anshuk From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2009, 480 posts, RR: 0 Reply 21, posted (3 years 5 months 2 weeks 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 8945 times:
Quoting Lightsaber (Reply 20): It is interesting thinking about DXB pre-EK. When people ask about airline growth, realize that most of the growth will be in areas that have little service today.
Anshuk From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2009, 480 posts, RR: 0 Reply 22, posted (3 years 5 months 2 weeks 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 8884 times:
Quoting Skyguy (Reply 14): Dubai never had any meaningful oil discoveries to speak of. Abu Dhabi did. Dubai was and still is a major trading hub and port.
Oil was indeed discovered there in the late '60s and caused a massive influx of immigrants and led to the initial Dubai boom! If I'm not mistaken, the Jebel Ali port was built in the mid '70s, only after the discovery of oil. However, it is true that *now* oil isn't a significant contributor to the economy!
Viscount724 From Switzerland, joined Oct 2006, 21495 posts, RR: 24 Reply 23, posted (3 years 5 months 2 weeks 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 8791 times:
Quoting MadameConcorde (Reply 10): Good find, thank you for posting. Definitely early 60's maybe even late 50s, by looking at the aircraft, good old MEA.
It can't be the '50s. DXB airport didn't open until September 30,1960 according to the airport website history section. Construction was only started in 1959.
Timz From United States of America, joined Sep 1999, 6468 posts, RR: 8 Reply 24, posted (3 years 5 months 2 weeks 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 8585 times:
Quoting AsoRock (Thread starter): It probably shows the arrival of inaugural MEA flight from Beirut to Dubai.
No MEA service to Dubai in the 4/66 OAG; in the 5/66 they have a weekly Comet.
28 Wassch71: Hi MEA started scheduled service to Dubai in May 1966. I actually have a picture of the arrival of inaugural flight to Dubai, featuring a Comet. The a
29 Beyauty: Huh? I live in Abu Dhabi, and there is no such thing, unless this was vigilante work done by a few individuals. It's certainly not official. All you
30 SOBHI51: The flag is the proof. From all the people meeting the plane and the security around this must be an unscheduled flight for an official visit. Tried
31 B727fan: Not true. Oil is the MAIN source of boom and sustaining the boom for Arab states along the Persian Gulf. True, Dubai may not have enough oil for expo
32 Anshuk: I wasn't talking about all the Arab states in the region, merely Dubai. Oil contributed to less than 6% of Dubai's economy back in 2005. I couldn't f
33 BA: Wonderful pictures. Thanks for sharing them. Amazing how Dubai was practically nothing back then compared to where it is now. MEA means a lot to me an
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