Memories of Fujairah - UAE

 

MEMORIES OF AL AQAH MOUNTAIN RIDGE, FUJAIRAH, U.A.E.

This was one of our favourite picnic spots during the years when we lived and worked in the UAE. The pictures shown above are taken nearly 40 years apart. A lot of changes have taken place in the interim, but the backdrop mountain ridge line has not and has remained as defined as ever. Now there is roundabout nearby where we pitched our tents and umbrellas, and the sprawling beach is thriving with numerous holiday resorts all along the coastline.

Trucial States

During my early days in this region, seven Sheikdoms formed what was then known as the Trucial States of Oman – a British protectorate until 1971. After that a beautiful nation known as the United Arab Emirates was born. Pic 1: Ruler's Palace, Abu Dhabi, 1969.  Pic.2: Left: Sheikha Latifa Bldg, on Bani Yas Street, Deira, 1969. Dubai Petroleum Co. had its offices in this bldg. Right: Hassani Supermarket bldg. Background: Jashanmal & Sons. Pic 3. Deira  Corniche 1969. Music Centre: Sole agents for the famous B&O (Bang & Olufsen of Denmark) next to Riviera Restaurant. Background: Carlton Hotel. #

Life in the Emirates

During my early days in this region, seven Sheikdoms formed what was then known as the Trucial States of Oman – a British protectorate until 1971. After that a beautiful nation known as the United Arab Emirates was born. Pic 1: Ruler's Palace, Abu Dhabi, 1969. Pic.2: Left: Sheikha Latifa Bldg, on Bani Yas Street, Deira, 1969. Dubai Petroleum Co. had its offices in this bldg. Right: Hassani Supermarket bldg. Background: Jashanmal & Sons. Pic 3. Deira Corniche 1969. Music Centre: Sole agents for the famous B&O (Bang & Olufsen of Denmark) next to Riviera Restaurant. Background: Carlton Hotel.

Hatta Fort - Dubai, United Arab Emirates - Line Art Drawing

'The Fishing Dhows of Deira' - Dubai 1976.

Line Art Drawing by Tony Fernandes

Originally drawn on a sketchpad as a hobby, this drawing was later adopted by the corporate sector in Dubai and Sharjah as a Greeting Card in the late 1970's from a series of my other line ink drawings of this nature. The skyline of Bur Dubai viewed from across the creek in Deira pretty much looked like this in the early seventies.

The dhows drawn in my line art drawing are local fishing craft. They are not meant for venturing out too far out into the open sea. These wooden boats were powered by robust 'Yamaha' diesel engines. Poised on a rack at the rear of the dhow just above the engine (2nd dhow from right), are fishing nets that were lowered into the depths of the waters of the Arabian Gulf.Then there were bigger merchant dhows that used to sail to Karachi, Bombay, Goa and Iran. These had very deep drafts and carried a sizable cargo in their holds. Such vessel were the lifelines of trade of the Arabian Peninsula in the 1960's and perhaps continue even now.