Squash was first played in Dubai in late 1960s
In 1970s, Hotels, Construction Companies and Social Clubs across Dubai built Squash Courts
Squash was embraced by Dubai Police
By mid 1980s, Squash in Dubai was being played at a high level
Emirates Golf Club's Squash Courts
Dubai's first Squash Court was built by Overseas AST in 1960s on a site later to become Port Rashid.
Overseas AST was an Austrian Construction Company established in Dubai in 1959.
Their Squash Court was part of a small office and sports complex for Overseas AST Staff
Complex was adjacent to the first European School in Dubai
School was later to become Dubai English Speaking School.
When Port Rashid's construction commenced in 1967, Contractor Costains took over the complex as Site Offices and Plant Yard
Squash Court became surrounded by a a pipe storage yard.
This was the only Squash Court in Dubai back then but was the seed from which Dubai's Squash Community grew.
Overseas AST was Dubai's first major construction company. They moved from Kuwait to Dubai in 1958.
Its parent company was Austrian and initially Overseas AST was known as ????. Sheikh Rashid made land available for Overseas AST to build a small office complex.
That same land was later to become part of Port Rashid.
In addition to their office complex Overseas AST built a sports complex for its staff. It included Tennis Court that doubled as a Basketball Court and a Squash Court, Dubai's first!
Squash Court was rudimentary. It had a concrete floor, four blockwork walls,lit by four street lights but no roof!.
The walls were plastered to provide a smooth surface mainly to prevent players injuring themselves when they collided with the walls. Overseas AST played on the court and also invited others to play, primarily Bank Staff. In the late 1960s Overseas AST relocated to new premises on Jumeirah Beach Road near Dubai Zoo. Their elevated Water Tank painted with their name in large letters became a prominent navigation feature.
Costains Engineering took over Overseas AST's old complex for their Port Rashid construction site offices, their plant yard and materials storage. Soon the Tennis Court and area surrounding the Squash Court were covered in large steel pipes. The Squash Court itself was still playable. Many of Costain's Management and Consultant Engineer's Staff were Squash Players so the Court was used regularly but not in an organised way.
Playing squash on this court required some care. Humidity made the floor slippery at time, an over enthusiastic lob could finish up in the pipe yard with lots of time wasted looking for it. On the other hand you could use the afternoon setting sun to your advantage by playing high lobs where your opponent had to stare into the setting sun searching for the ball.
As more people played the game, a Squash Ladder was set up and this rudimentary Squash Court became the cradle for the growth of Squash in Dubai.
Sir William Halcrow and Partners were Consulting Engineers for Port Rashid and friendly rivals with Costains. They started playing Team Squash.
As Dubai grew, more squash courts were built. Dutco, Dubal, Shell Oil Company, Halcrows all built Squash Courts. Chicago Beach Hotel and some of the new housing complexes built Squash Courts for their Residents.
There were now sufficient Players and Teams to support a Squash League.
Sir William Halcrow and Partners and Costain Construction Staff were the primary drivers behind establishing the Squash League. Gray Mackenzie and Co. arranged sponsorship by Heineken Brewery hence the new league was called the Heineken Squash League.
In 1974, Dubai Country Club built two squash courts. A growing membership enabled DCC to field several Squash Teams. Initially the League had only one Division but the growing number of Teams and facilities, both from Dubai and Sharjah, eventually led to several Divisions. Players formed the Dubai and Sharjah Squash League to administer the game. Later, Dubai Police became interested in Squash and developed successful Teams. With this local involvement, the Dubai and Sharjah Squash League became the UAE Squash Rackets Association in Dubai affiliated to the Ministry of Sport.
Representative of Heineken Brewery presents the first Heineken Trophy to Derek Pollock, Captain of Halcrows
Winners of the first Heineken Squash League 1974
(Location: Dubai Country Club Squash Courts)
Women played competitive Squash from the very early days of Squash in Dubai. A Ladies Squash League catered for the many Ladies' Teams. Rules governing the Ladies Squash League expressly defined the League as for Lady Squash Players only. Heineken League based its Rules and Regulations on the assumption only men's team would compete so had no specific as to who could play in the League. That assumption became an issue when one Team, being short of a Player, decided to field a Lady Player to fill the gap. That caused criticism and A review of the Rule Book. That showed there was no rule precluding women from participating in the League. As a consequence, women played in mixed gender Teams competing in the Heineken Squash League.
Dubai Country Club built two Squash Courts and became the centre of Dubai's Squash at beginning of 1980s. DCC subsequently built a third Squash Court to International Competition standards. Geoff Hunt (Australia) and Jonah Barrington (UK), both top World Class Players were invited to play Exhibition Matches on this new Squash Court. This led to the Dubai Country Club International Squash 3s in 1984 where International Teams of 3 players were invited to compete for a range of Trophies. Tournament attracted a top field and was the only sporting competition in Dubai to feature professional world-ranked players. Professional teams from Australia, England, Scotland and South Africa played against top amateur teams from Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia.
The popularity of this competition continued for over 20 years until Dubai Country Club was closed down to make way for Dubai's new developments.
