Ten ways to tell if you're an Abu Dhabi old-timer

Eldorado Cinema in Abu Dhabi was open for more than four decades before it closed in 2017. Photo: NYU Abu Dhabi Art Gallery

It's been a decade since I moved to Abu Dhabi from the US. What began as an adventure into the unknown in 2014 has turned into finding a place I now call home.

Over the past 10 years, the city has impressed me with its tremendous growth in various ways. When I first arrived in the UAE capital, hangout spots such as Al Qana, Yas Bay and Mamsha didn’t exist.

Hailing a taxi meant standing outside and waving my arms, and shopping online was far more challenging – especially when trying to find specific things from different countries.

These days, ease and convenience are just a couple of things the emirate can proudly boast. But if you’re like me and still remember how things felt a decade ago, you might be considered an Abu Dhabi old-timer, a badge of honour that comes with its own set of telltale signs.

Here are 10 ways to recognise if you’ve earned it.

You’ve seen a film at El Dorado Cinema

El Dorado was the first indoor cinema in Abu Dhabi when it opened in 1970. Mona Al Marzooqi / The National

Abu Dhabi’s first indoor cinema opened in 1970 and was known for its pink and blue neon lights that brightened Electra Street for decades. Named after a Beirut theatre, the standalone movie house sadly closed in 2017. But for those who remember, it was the place to go for Bollywood films. If you’ve been here long enough, you might have been lucky to catch some other screenings too.

You’ve eaten at Le Boulanger Marina Cafe

The cafe on the Corniche biking track was a place that was popular for watching football or enjoying shisha. However, the best part of the French-themed cafe was easily its location, which offered magnificent views of the Abu Dhabi skyline. It was also a familiar sight to anyone who drove to Marina Mall. Sadly, it has since closed with very little signs left of what used to be.

You paid your phone bill at an Etisalat store

It’s hard to remember when things switched over from in-person payments to online transactions. But there used to be a time when you were alerted that your bill was due and you would have to stand in line at the mall in front of the store and wait before being able to pay it.

You remember when Galleria Mall was just for high-end shopping

Before Galleria Mall on Al Maryah Island added an extension in 2019, it was known for its luxury shopping brands. Ravindranath K / The National

There was a time when The Galleria was known only for its luxury shopping brands such as Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga, Cartier and Versace. In 2019, the mall also added a four-level extension and brought in other stores such as Kinokuniya, Zara and Lululemon. These days, it even has an upgraded name, going by The Galleria Al Maryah Island.

You used to order on souq.com

Amazon didn’t always exist in the UAE. However, that doesn’t mean that online shopping wasn’t available, as souq.com was the main e-commerce platform. Eventually souq.com was officially rebranded as amazon.ae in 2019 after Amazon bought it for $580 million in July 2017.

You’ve been to Tiara Revolving Restaurant

Tiara was a revolving restaurant on top of Marina Mall. Jaime Puebla / The National

Looking like an alien spaceship, Tiara was a revolving restaurant that offered bird's-eye panoramic views of Abu Dhabi from a height of 126 metres. No longer in business, it was a notable structure that stood tall on top of Marina Mall.

You had to call to book a taxi

These days, it’s easier than ever to hail a ride-sharing app, but there used to be a time when the only ways to do it were either by standing outside waving your arms (not ideal during the summer) or by calling on the phone and booking a ride.

You went to the Corniche when it was just a beach

Before the Abu Dhabi Corniche was filled with restaurants, cafes and children's play areas, it was just sand and sea. Lauren Lancaster / The National

The Abu Dhabi corniche now has a stunning boardwalk that includes children’s play areas, cycling and pedestrian pathways, cafes and restaurants, making it the place to be when the weather cools down. But unsurprisingly, there was a time when it used to just be sand and sea. The addition of the new attractions has given the area new life, though.

You would go to iStyle for anything Apple-related

Despite Apple’s popularity, the first Apple Store didn’t arrive in the UAE until it opened branches in 2015 at Dubai's Mall of the Emirates and Abu Dhabi’s Yas Mall. These days, there are stores that can be found throughout the country but before then, iStyle was the official authorised reseller. This means that for anything Apple-related, it was iStyle that would be the place to go. A bonus point if you remember going to the iStyle on the top floor of Al Wahda Mall.

You’ve seen a concert at Emirates Palace grounds

Pop star Christina Aguilera performed at Emirates Palace in October 2008. Stephen Lock / The National

In the past few years, Etihad Arena has hosted an impressive line-up that includes the musical Hamilton, the NBA Games and concerts from the likes of Maroon 5 and the Backstreet Boys. But there was a time when the big shows would be at one place: the grounds of Emirates Palace. Celebrities such as Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake and Rihanna have all performed at the five-star hotel in front of more than 10,000 fans.