Dubai Gold Souk 1982

Today I was scanning in old photos.

I went to Dubai in 1982 to work for Shell and lived there for four years. Even in those days Dubai was quite a well developed and westernised city for the region. There were 3 five star hotels, a "country club" and two sailing clubs. However, the city still had some traditional old buildings, dirt roads and souks (markets). The Gold Souk was something special. It was three or four streets of small shops crammed with gold jewellery, mostly pretty gaudy stuff aimed at local and Indian customers, but also with more western designs which my wife appreciated!

Here is a corner of the Gold Souk in 1982. It shows a Dubai long since lost to ridiculous skyscrapers and malls.