Abu Dhabi’s Old Is Gold!

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Assad El Abbas arrived in Abu Dhabi via Bahrain in 1968 from Beirut to join Town Planning Section headed by the Japanese Architect Mr. Takahashi. The weather was hot and windy. His driver moved on the sandy tracks of the desert.

When he reached the so far Guesthouse (Al Madheef), he didn’t find a vacant room to stay. Water was rare to take a bath, and drinking water was more expensive than cigarettes.Abu Dhabi was a small town consisting of a few rows of stone buildings on the beach, the city center was partially demolished, and new buildings were growing up. Other wooden houses were temporarily made of palm fronds with cloth burjeels at the top.He joined Mr. Takahashi, Abu Dhabi Chief Town Planner coming from New York, USA, and became close friends. They used to accompany each other on their wild trips between Abu Dhabi and Al Ain to discuss the Planning process with Crown Prince Dewan’s officials.

He lived in UAE for almost 55 years and has good relations with his fellow citizens and expatriates. He retired in 2012 as GIS Information Expert of the Spatial Data Directorate, Town Planning Sector. He almost witnessed Abu Dhabi’s development from a fishermen’s town to one of the most attractive cities in the world!