42A Jumeirah Beach Road 1972

Built by the Ruler's Office

Five of these houses were constructed side by side on the Jumeirah Beach Road near to the original Dubai Zoo.

These houses were primarily built to house Government Staff and those connected to Government

Houses were managed and allocated by the Ruler's office

There were approximately 20 identical houses on the Al Wasl Road

Internal Layout

Houses were two storey.

Ground Floor comprised:

• A front entrance doorway with an office alcove and a washroom to the left
• A lounge room to the right
• Straight ahead was a tiled stairway leading to the top floor
• At the back to the right was a kitchen and pantry
• Built into the house was a Servant's Quarters with room and bathroom, access being by an external door.

Upstairs comprised:

• A main bedroom with an ensuite and private balcony
• Two further bedrooms
• A stand alone bathroom
• An upstair lounge and balcony that looked out to Jumeirah Beach Road.

External Layout

There was no garage - only a car shelter that accommodated two cars - just!

There was a sizeable garden but entirely sand - greening Dubai had yet to happen.

Some plants and trees did manage to survive but they mainly provided habitat for tree rats

Outlook from the back of the garden was over open desert and palm trees.

House Amenities

A Roof tank stored water supplied from the water mains

Mains electricicity was supplied to the house

Gas for cooking was from portable gas bottles.

Sewerage was dealt with by a cesspit, later replaced by a mains sewage system

Airconditioning was by window units

Living in the House

Out the gate and turn right meant easy access to work, schools and airport. Road traffic was light in those day

Out the gate and turn left accessed Dubai Zoo and Chicago Beach Hotel. Crae was needed on that part of Jumeirah Beach Road as it passed through several villages. Risk of encountering wandering goats and young children meant care was needed.

Out the gate and straight ahead meant easy access to Jumeirah Beach.

End of the Road

These houses had been poorly constructed with beach sand.

By the early 1990s, the condition of these houses had deteriorated to a point where it was not viable to renovate. These three houses were demolished and replaced by modern town houses.