They are among the buildings that define the UAE. But what is the story behind them? In the first part of our summer series celebrating the country’s architecture, we speak to Brian Johnson, the man behind the clubhouse of the Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club.
It was a split-second decision that arguably changed Dubai’s skyline and Brian Johnson’s life.
The sketches for a new building on the shores of the Creek were being sent by courier from the UK in a sealed package.
But the British architect quickly had a small, eight-inch model made and sent it with the drawings.
“It was a last-minute decision but it was the best £100 I ever spent,” says Mr Johnson with a smile, pointing to the model that is now sitting in his office in Dubai.
“We needed something to explain [the design] and I wasn’t going to be there.”
Almost 30 years on, his clubhouse for Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht club remains one of the city’s well-known buildings.
Mr Johnson’s angular design, which evokes the lateen sails of a dhow, became an instant classic and has stood the test of time.
Even the advent of Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, has not dislodged the importance of the structure on Dubai’s ever-changing skyline. It also graces the back of the Dh20 note.
Historic heart of Dubai
Sitting in his Dubai offices today, Mr Johnson recounts the painstaking design effort in the late 1980s for the bid that beat international competitors from across the globe.
But his winning design was no accident. Instead, it was the culmination of years of work by Mr Johnson in the UAE, experimenting with regional motifs and symbols.
He arrived in Dubai in the mid-1970s to work on Sharjah’s Marbella Resort. Opened by Scottish actor Sean Connery in 1978, the resort was a collection of Spanish colonial-style adobe cottages set in a lush garden.
From there, Mr Johnson turned to designing Jumeirah English Speaking School, which had an open plan, hardly any corridors and a pitched roof that allowed in natural light from above.
“This was the beginning of my tendency to try to give buildings a sense of where they came from,” he says.
More schools followed along with a significant amount of work for Dubai Police. With Brewer, Smith and Brewer, Mr Johnson was also behind the famous Bedouin tent design of Emirates Golf Club, which opened in 1988.
“[Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, now Vice President and Ruler of Dubai] said this is a desert but I want it to be a Dubai desert building.
"We went away and came up with 101 variations on tents. The one that struck was the one that was most symbolic of a tent without actually looking like it.”
The designs of Emirates Golf Club and JESS were hints of what were to come. By the late 1980s, Mr Johnson was back in the UK and working with his own practice, Godwin Austen Johnson.
But Dubai would come calling again. Much of the development through the 1980s had been on Sheikh Zayed Road, extending the city towards Abu Dhabi. But now the attention switched back to the historic heart of Dubai, the Creek. A new golf course was being planned with a clubhouse to introduce Dubai as a global centre of golf. This could be no mere course for players, however.
Sail-inspired design
Mr Johnson worked on the designs from offices in the British Midlands but kept thinking about the Creek. It was here that he lived when he arrived in Dubai for the first time in the 1970s.
Just a few decades earlier, the great pearling fleets could still be seen in Dubai waters. Even in the 1970s, boats crowded the Creek, carrying cargoes across the Gulf and the city’s life revolved around it. The idea of a lateen sail then kindled an interest in him.
“I clearly needed a different image to Emirates Golf Club. What does the Creek tell you?” he asks. “It tells you about water and boats and dhows.
“Having had that conversation with [Sheikh Mohammed] about how it had to be like Dubai, then I think we had that head start.”
Then came the hard work — weeks of drawing, sketching and filling bins with countless designs that failed to make the cut. Some of the early perspectives faintly resembled the Sydney Opera House.
“Sydney Opera House is completely curved," Mr Johnson says. "So avoiding that was the key to making this different. Everything at Dubai Creek is flat.”
Taking a business card from his pocket, he folds it to show how the three-dimensional effect was achieved.
“You make it to a square, fold it in half with a little bit of this and little bit of that and suddenly you have it,” he says with a smile. “One must play with forms and shapes.”
He also ensured that no matter where anyone stands on the course, the design looks like the sails of a dhow. This was done by adding sails of different sizes.
Construction started in 1990 by Al Naboodah Laing and it was a complicated process. The concrete panels that make up the sails had to be aligned precisely to ensure the building was free of any curves.
“It had to be absolutely spot on,” says Mr Johnson. “But it was really high-tech and cutting edge in its day.”
Spectacular opening
Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club opened in spectacular fashion on January 28, 1993. Sheikh Mohammed cut the ribbon, Shirley Bassey played and thousands of people watched a fireworks display light up the Creek in one of the biggest parties the city had ever seen.
Photographs of Mr Johnson at the ceremony show him elated at a job well done. Along the way, it has hosted other performances by Stevie Wonder, Rod Stewart, Roger Waters and Elton John.
The golf course, designed by architect Karl Litten, was overhauled in the mid-2000s. Today, the clubhouse remains one of the most distinctive buildings in Dubai and helped introduce the city to the world.
“When you have the Eiffel Tower in the background, everyone immediately knows you are in Paris. So it is a symbol of Dubai,” says Mr Johnson.
“It is not a cheap way to build a golf clubhouse but they certainly didn’t want an invisible golf clubhouse. So it was important to me to respond to that.”
The opening was also important in the context of its time. Although the idea for the course developed in the 1980s, the Gulf War of 1990 cast a shadow over the region, with many people leaving and economic uncertainties lingering.
But many also stayed, and the Dubai Creek opening showed that people who had written off Dubai would be wrong once more.
Now in his 70s and based again in Dubai, Mr Johnson's 45-year career also includes Al Seef heritage district and the Bab Al Shams hotel but there is only one Dubai Creek.
"The Creek has a special place in my heart. It is in a fabulous location, a fabulously visible location and nobody who comes into Dubai by air and goes over the bridge doesn’t see it and wonder what the hell it is.
“It was a fantastic opportunity to do something a bit different and we pulled it off. Dubai made it possible.”
A version of this article was first published on July 17, 2022
Dubai Creek through the years - in pictures
ULTRA PROCESSED FOODS
- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns
- margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars;
- energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces
- infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes,
- many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts.
ENGLAND SQUAD
Goalkeepers Henderson, Pickford, Pope.
Defenders Alexander-Arnold, Chilwell, Coady, Dier, Gomez, Keane, Maguire, Maitland-Niles, Mings, Saka, Trippier, Walker.
Midfielders Henderson, Mount, Phillips, Rice, Ward-Prowse, Winks.
Forwards Abraham, Barnes, Calvert-Lewin, Grealish, Ings, Kane, Rashford, Sancho, Sterling.
65
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Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
The five stages of early child’s play
From Dubai-based clinical psychologist Daniella Salazar:
1. Solitary Play: This is where Infants and toddlers start to play on their own without seeming to notice the people around them. This is the beginning of play.
2. Onlooker play: This occurs where the toddler enjoys watching other people play. There doesn’t necessarily need to be any effort to begin play. They are learning how to imitate behaviours from others. This type of play may also appear in children who are more shy and introverted.
3. Parallel Play: This generally starts when children begin playing side-by-side without any interaction. Even though they aren’t physically interacting they are paying attention to each other. This is the beginning of the desire to be with other children.
4. Associative Play: At around age four or five, children become more interested in each other than in toys and begin to interact more. In this stage children start asking questions and talking about the different activities they are engaging in. They realise they have similar goals in play such as building a tower or playing with cars.
5. Social Play: In this stage children are starting to socialise more. They begin to share ideas and follow certain rules in a game. They slowly learn the definition of teamwork. They get to engage in basic social skills and interests begin to lead social interactions.
Managing the separation process
- Choose your nursery carefully in the first place
- Relax – and hopefully your child will follow suit
- Inform the staff in advance of your child’s likes and dislikes.
- If you need some extra time to talk to the teachers, make an appointment a few days in advance, rather than attempting to chat on your child’s first day
- The longer you stay, the more upset your child will become. As difficult as it is, walk away. Say a proper goodbye and reassure your child that you will be back
- Be patient. Your child might love it one day and hate it the next
- Stick at it. Don’t give up after the first day or week. It takes time for children to settle into a new routine.And, finally, don’t feel guilty.
The specs: 2018 Volkswagen Teramont
Price, base / as tested Dh137,000 / Dh189,950
Engine 3.6-litre V6
Gearbox Eight-speed automatic
Power 280hp @ 6,200rpm
Torque 360Nm @ 2,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 11.7L / 100km
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Tank warfare
Lt Gen Erik Petersen, deputy chief of programs, US Army, has argued it took a “three decade holiday” on modernising tanks.
“There clearly remains a significant armoured heavy ground manoeuvre threat in this world and maintaining a world class armoured force is absolutely vital,” the general said in London last week.
“We are developing next generation capabilities to compete with and deter adversaries to prevent opportunism or miscalculation, and, if necessary, defeat any foe decisively.”
Race card
1.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 50,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
2pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 84,000 (D) 1,400m
2.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 60,000 (D) 1,200m
3pm: Conditions (TB) Dh 100,000 (D) 1.950m
3.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 76,000 (D) 1,800m
4pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 60,000 (D) 1,600m
4.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 68,000 (D) 1,000m
BABYLON
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Ruwais timeline
1971 Abu Dhabi National Oil Company established
1980 Ruwais Housing Complex built, located 10 kilometres away from industrial plants
1982 120,000 bpd capacity Ruwais refinery complex officially inaugurated by the founder of the UAE Sheikh Zayed
1984 Second phase of Ruwais Housing Complex built. Today the 7,000-unit complex houses some 24,000 people.
1985 The refinery is expanded with the commissioning of a 27,000 b/d hydro cracker complex
2009 Plans announced to build $1.2 billion fertilizer plant in Ruwais, producing urea
2010 Adnoc awards $10bn contracts for expansion of Ruwais refinery, to double capacity from 415,000 bpd
2014 Ruwais 261-outlet shopping mall opens
2014 Production starts at newly expanded Ruwais refinery, providing jet fuel and diesel and allowing the UAE to be self-sufficient for petrol supplies
2014 Etihad Rail begins transportation of sulphur from Shah and Habshan to Ruwais for export
2017 Aldar Academies to operate Adnoc’s schools including in Ruwais from September. Eight schools operate in total within the housing complex.
2018 Adnoc announces plans to invest $3.1 billion on upgrading its Ruwais refinery
2018 NMC Healthcare selected to manage operations of Ruwais Hospital
2018 Adnoc announces new downstream strategy at event in Abu Dhabi on May 13
Source: The National
Jewel of the Expo 2020
252 projectors installed on Al Wasl dome
13.6km of steel used in the structure that makes it equal in length to 16 Burj Khalifas
550 tonnes of moulded steel were raised last year to cap the dome
724,000 cubic metres is the space it encloses
Stands taller than the leaning tower of Pisa
Steel trellis dome is one of the largest single structures on site
The size of 16 tennis courts and weighs as much as 500 elephants
Al Wasl means connection in Arabic
World’s largest 360-degree projection surface
