![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LJ5N33BSPBDM7F2KHIXOX7MSHI.jpg?smart=true&auth=3b557fbddc688c32b89e7307efccae89232c537d9369f53ec21678f51952e6ef&width=400&height=225)
Defence Tower at the edge of Al Shindagha, already a beneficiary of preservation efforts, in this 1977 photograph by Mark Harris
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4I34LBMDWZB6XJN5BGGBEUZ6R4.jpg?smart=true&auth=fad7d965523626fce08a3ca0f0b36337303fbad53f2dfe7275788ac3b58d470c&width=400&height=225)
Photograph by Mark Harris shows a consultant taking in the view of a Dubai filled with possibilities in 1977. All photos: John R Harris Library
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3WH33SLNRVAZNPBSHIE3AIHHNM.jpg?smart=true&auth=605790d6f9ce5e9472751265dfd8ff723b1488c4c35ab83a4112e2c27ea1e108&width=400&height=225)
Photograph by Stephen Finch of the headquarters for Dubai Municipality under construction in 1977
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZXXDJJJUYBBL5ESE365IAIZRRY.jpg?smart=true&auth=51edff61ba3721ec25ad86516b3c25bb694a8392f387b0d4f06794c7a4a15898&width=400&height=225)
A bird's-eye view of Port Rashid towards the construction site of the World Trade Centre in 1977 by Mark Harris
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VO44GLK4VZHXJBJ7PJFISLB5AI.jpg?smart=true&auth=303bd9800b290b84028a034a47ae9b9a23f4c5e89d9e9fcdd83032431d598bb3&width=400&height=225)
Photograph of salvaged building supplies, by Mark Harris in 1977, define and secure a construction site in Deira
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/L22SR7GV4ZBDLJ36JOMQWQBI6A.jpg?smart=true&auth=704f19394fa7dd778658b10ebafb8035d3f0f2b7b3a9c0558c1e2164be8691e4&width=400&height=225)
An image by Mark Harris in 1977 of Baniyas Road, the waterfront artery around Deira, being extended on land that had been reclaimed from the waters of Dubai Creek
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5UPJ42DBMNBWTKZ3CGTP74GXIQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=8112336b79d4e7377b021802324b9318e06fb0d5f7c0f41fc820b08472f380a8&width=400&height=225)
In the foreground of this 1977 image by Stephen Finch, architects’ and construction management’s offices are visible. In the background sprawls a town of bungalows, barracks and tents for those who are constructing the Trade Centre Complex
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LJ5N33BSPBDM7F2KHIXOX7MSHI.jpg?smart=true&auth=3b557fbddc688c32b89e7307efccae89232c537d9369f53ec21678f51952e6ef&width=400&height=225)
Defence Tower at the edge of Al Shindagha, already a beneficiary of preservation efforts, in this 1977 photograph by Mark Harris
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4I34LBMDWZB6XJN5BGGBEUZ6R4.jpg?smart=true&auth=fad7d965523626fce08a3ca0f0b36337303fbad53f2dfe7275788ac3b58d470c&width=400&height=225)
Photograph by Mark Harris shows a consultant taking in the view of a Dubai filled with possibilities in 1977. All photos: John R Harris Library
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3WH33SLNRVAZNPBSHIE3AIHHNM.jpg?smart=true&auth=605790d6f9ce5e9472751265dfd8ff723b1488c4c35ab83a4112e2c27ea1e108&width=400&height=225)
Photograph by Stephen Finch of the headquarters for Dubai Municipality under construction in 1977
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZXXDJJJUYBBL5ESE365IAIZRRY.jpg?smart=true&auth=51edff61ba3721ec25ad86516b3c25bb694a8392f387b0d4f06794c7a4a15898&width=400&height=225)
A bird's-eye view of Port Rashid towards the construction site of the World Trade Centre in 1977 by Mark Harris
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VO44GLK4VZHXJBJ7PJFISLB5AI.jpg?smart=true&auth=303bd9800b290b84028a034a47ae9b9a23f4c5e89d9e9fcdd83032431d598bb3&width=400&height=225)
Photograph of salvaged building supplies, by Mark Harris in 1977, define and secure a construction site in Deira
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/L22SR7GV4ZBDLJ36JOMQWQBI6A.jpg?smart=true&auth=704f19394fa7dd778658b10ebafb8035d3f0f2b7b3a9c0558c1e2164be8691e4&width=400&height=225)
An image by Mark Harris in 1977 of Baniyas Road, the waterfront artery around Deira, being extended on land that had been reclaimed from the waters of Dubai Creek
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5UPJ42DBMNBWTKZ3CGTP74GXIQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=8112336b79d4e7377b021802324b9318e06fb0d5f7c0f41fc820b08472f380a8&width=400&height=225)
In the foreground of this 1977 image by Stephen Finch, architects’ and construction management’s offices are visible. In the background sprawls a town of bungalows, barracks and tents for those who are constructing the Trade Centre Complex
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LJ5N33BSPBDM7F2KHIXOX7MSHI.jpg?smart=true&auth=3b557fbddc688c32b89e7307efccae89232c537d9369f53ec21678f51952e6ef&width=400&height=225)
Defence Tower at the edge of Al Shindagha, already a beneficiary of preservation efforts, in this 1977 photograph by Mark Harris
Rare photographs at Jameel Arts Centre highlight Dubai's beginnings as an exhibition city
Curated by Todd Reisz, the exhibition Off Centre / On Stage showcases 58 rare images of Dubai taken in the 1970s, just as the emirate began its southward expansion
![Razmig Bedirian](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F275b4b76-cb6d-410e-a5df-c23d65484c26.png?smart=true&auth=fc94b07464368c9c664f3bd102f95ffe4c76b1b38fe7d6fee2362e26add51d0e&width=70&height=70)
Razmig Bedirian
03 October, 2021
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