Bastakia was due for Demolition in 1980s
Part of Bastakia was demolished to make way for a new Diwan
Prince Charles visited Bastakia in early 1980s
Rayner Otter, a British architect living in Dubai, asked for Prince Charles' help to conserve Bastakia.
Prince Charles (now King Charles III) subsequently wrote to Sheikh Rashid suggesting Dubai to retain these unique buildings.
Demolition work was stopped and restoration began.
After Restoration
Mandy Watson lived and worked in Dubai between 1984/86
Mandy carried her pocket Olympus Camera and took photographs of life in Dubai as it used to be.
Her unique photographs were then consigned to Family Photo Albums where they remained unseen until recently.
Negatives were lost over time
Mandy photographed the photos in her Family Albums for this webpage.
