In the days of the new UAE, unification meant different things to different people. Some arrived in the years before 1971 to lend their expertise. Others came in search of a better life. And for some, the union meant something as simple yet vital as electricity. In the second of a three-part series to celebrate the UAE's 49th National Day, we speak to two friends from Cairo who came to Dubai in the 1960s.
Mahmoud's sad letters brought Farouq Mohamed and Mohamed Zakaria to Dubai in 1962.
The trio had studied accounting at university in Cairo during the peak of Gamal Abdel Nasser’s pan-Arabism, graduating in 1959. Within a few years, they reunited in Dubai and witnessed the decade before the formation of the UAE.
Mahmoud came to Dubai because of his uncle, a general in Nasser’s revolutionary government. The general had travelled to the Gulf with a delegation representing Egypt’s new pan-Arab government.
At the majlis of Dubai’s then Ruler, Sheikh Rashid, the envoys were asked to send young, trustworthy men from Egypt.
The airport was sabkha. No roads, no people
Mahmoud was volunteered by his uncle. But Dubai was a world removed from cosmopolitan Cairo. Homesick, he pleaded with his friends to join him.
“When he came here, he was alone, lonely,” said Mr Zakaria. “So he sent for his friend, me. He said: ‘Come join me in this desert’.” Mr Mohamed got similar letters.
“We wanted to have the same group that we had in university because it would make life better for Mahmoud,” said Mr Mohamed.
"I liked a challenge. But when I came, I came with the idea that the return ticket was in my pocket. So I said: ‘Let’s see. If I'm happy I shall stay and if I'm not happy I shall return to Cairo’.”
Mr Zakaria was offered a job and a one-way ticket to Dubai by the merchant Ali Al Owais, chairman of Dubai Refreshment Company, which made Pepsi Cola and had Dubai’s first ice factory.
When he collected his ticket from Cairo’s BOAC office, he asked where Dubai was.
The clerk unrolled a map, squinted hard and said: “There is nothing called Dubai. There are two towns only: Muscat and Sharjah.”
Days later, Mr Zakaria was aboard a 12-seater plane, peering out a window in confusion as the pilot announced they were about to land in Dubai. Mr Zakaria saw nothing but sea, sabkha salt flats and a winding creek.
“The pilot said: ‘We are now over Dubai’ and I looked down and said: ‘There is nothing I can see, absolutely nothing. Where is the airport? There is no airport there.’ I was very surprised, because the airport was sabkha. No roads, no people, no water, no electricity – nothing really.”
'Have you ever seen chicken in a can?'
Mr Zakaria and Mahmoud shared a flat in Deira and Mr Mohamed lived across the creek in Bur Dubai at the vegetable bazaar.
There was no air conditioning, so Mr Mohamed carried his mattress on to the roof each night to catch the breeze, only to be woken at dawn each morning when the vegetable auction began.
There was no water connection, so Mr Mohamed took buckets of water from a steel tank on the roof to fill his bathtub so he could have a cool bath at night. In the tub, he’d catch up on the news by reading newspapers printed days earlier in Kuwait or Egypt.
Mr Zakaria worked as an accountant at Dubai Refreshment Company, becoming chief executive in 1968. This was a hit with the fishermen and grocers who previously relied on canned goods, most of which came from Bahrain.
“By the way, have you ever seen a chicken in a can?” said Mr Zakaria. “This is how we ate chicken in 1963. Canned chicken. You opened the can and took the chicken out from inside, one full chicken.”
The factory was on the Dubai Creek, where dhows set off for India, Iraq, Kuwait and Zanzibar. It had a platform on the crowded waterway and everything arrived by dhow, including sugar, concentrate and Pepsi signs. Even the water to make cola was distilled from the creek.
Most dhows were used in the Indian gold trade, which was at its peak. As head accountant to prominent merchants and captains, Mr Mohamed oversaw accounts for the captains who commanded ships laden with gold.
“At that time, Dubai was closer to India [than Egypt],” said Mr Mohamed. “The currency was the rupee; the only foreigners here were Indian. There were also a few Pakistanis and lots of Iranians who were born here.”
Most Arabs were Egyptian teachers, supported by their government, or doctors from Egypt, Palestine and Iraq, who were supported by Kuwait in a show of pan-Arab solidarity.
“At that time, when you walked in the street you knew everyone by face and by name,” said Mr Mohamed. “When you were on the airplane, you knew everyone on the airplane. Those were the days when you had a small community and our only ambition was to meet every night for dinner.”
The British withdrawal
In 1968, the British announced plans to withdraw from the Gulf. Rulers worked to unify the emirates into a single state but Dubai’s business community was preoccupied with trade.
“The concentration was only on business,” said Mr Mohamed. “You had weekly shipments to India and when you are shipping goods to India you are waiting to get news that they have arrived. You get this news after seven days and during these seven days you are not thinking about anything except your money.
"You don't have time for concentrating on anything other than that."
“At that time, the Arab world was boiling about independence,” he said. “Nasser had nationalised the Suez Canal so the whole Arab world was pro Nasser and everyone was waiting to hear Nasser’s speeches.
“Here, they were very careful. Sheikh Rashid didn’t really want to involve himself. He said: ‘I like you but I don’t want to destroy my country.' They managed to compromise.”
'You'd look out and find black carpets'
Oil was discovered at Al Falah field in 1966 and Dubai soon had its first export. Government spending on infrastructure spurred private investment in retail, construction and property.
“The government moved towards infrastructure with Jebel Ali, the Dubai Port, the World Trade Centre,” said Mr Mohamed. “Many things started to be made by the Dubai government, which encouraged the people to spend money.”
Car dealerships were especially popular, even before paved roads. Landscapes transformed overnight.
British companies laid roads as Dubai slept.
“In the morning, you’d look out and find black carpets,” said Mr Mohamed. "Sand became black.”
The impact of unification
Unification, known as ittihad in Arabic, opened Abu Dhabi to other emirates.
“The people in Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and Ajman, they were much closer together than Abu Dhabi,” said Mr Zakaria. “From the beginning, it was almost like one country, people went here and there. Except for Abu Dhabi, of course. If you didn’t have an Abu Dhabi [permit] you would never enter Abu Dhabi.”
Prior to unification, it had been difficult for people to cross into Abu Dhabi without a permit and setting up business in the capital required a sponsor or partner from Abu Dhabi. In contrast, free movement and business between Dubai and the Northern Emirates was common. With unification, Abu Dhabi became more integrated with the other emirates and it experienced a flush of investment from the future capital.
“After ittihad, people were very happy because so many jobs came,” said Mr Zakaria. “The education in the Northern Emirates was much more advanced than anywhere else. This is a fact. So people who had good education found opportunities in Abu Dhabi. Maybe more than 40 per cent of its workers were from Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah.” Mahmoud left Dubai in 1963, after his employer passed away.
But his Cairo friends, now Emiratis themselves, have never looked back.
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Sheikh Zayed and the story of a nation
Representing%20UAE%20overseas
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The National photo project
Chris Whiteoak, a photographer at The National, spent months taking some of Jacqui Allan's props around the UAE, positioning them perfectly in front of some of the country's most recognisable landmarks. He placed a pirate on Kite Beach, in front of the Burj Al Arab, the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland at the Burj Khalifa, and brought one of Allan's snails (Freddie, which represents her grandfather) to the Dubai Frame. In Abu Dhabi, a dinosaur went to Al Ain's Jebel Hafeet. And a flamingo was taken all the way to the Hatta Mountains. This special project suitably brings to life the quirky nature of Allan's prop shop (and Allan herself!).
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, second leg result:
Ajax 2-3 Tottenham
Tottenham advance on away goals rule after tie ends 3-3 on aggregate
Final: June 1, Madrid
MO
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Day 5, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day When Dilruwan Perera dismissed Yasir Shah to end Pakistan’s limp resistance, the Sri Lankans charged around the field with the fevered delirium of a side not used to winning. Trouble was, they had not. The delivery was deemed a no ball. Sri Lanka had a nervy wait, but it was merely a stay of execution for the beleaguered hosts.
Stat of the day – 5 Pakistan have lost all 10 wickets on the fifth day of a Test five times since the start of 2016. It is an alarming departure for a side who had apparently erased regular collapses from their resume. “The only thing I can say, it’s not a mitigating excuse at all, but that’s a young batting line up, obviously trying to find their way,” said Mickey Arthur, Pakistan’s coach.
The verdict Test matches in the UAE are known for speeding up on the last two days, but this was extreme. The first two innings of this Test took 11 sessions to complete. The remaining two were done in less than four. The nature of Pakistan’s capitulation at the end showed just how difficult the transition is going to be in the post Misbah-ul-Haq era.
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA
Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi
Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser
Rating: 4.5/5
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
THE BIO
Favourite car: Koenigsegg Agera RS or Renault Trezor concept car.
Favourite book: I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes or Red Notice by Bill Browder.
Biggest inspiration: My husband Nik. He really got me through a lot with his positivity.
Favourite holiday destination: Being at home in Australia, as I travel all over the world for work. It’s great to just hang out with my husband and family.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
List of UAE medal winners
Gold
Faisal Al Ketbi (Open weight and 94kg)
Talib Al Kirbi (69kg)
Omar Al Fadhli (56kg)
Silver
Zayed Al Kaabi (94kg)
Khalfan Belhol (85kg)
Zayed Al Mansoori (62kg)
Mouza Al Shamsi (49kg women)
Bronze
Yahia Mansour Al Hammadi (Open and 94kg)
Saood Al Hammadi (77kg)
Said Al Mazroui (62kg)
Obaid Al Nuaimi (56kg)
Bashayer Al Matrooshi (62kg women)
Reem Abdulkareem (45kg women)
UAE%20PREMIERSHIP
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Employment lawyer Meriel Schindler of Withers Worldwide shares her tips on achieving equal pay
Do your homework
Make sure that you are being offered a fair salary. There is lots of industry data available, and you can always talk to people who have come out of the organisation. Where I see people coming a cropper is where they haven’t done their homework.
Don’t be afraid to negotiate
It’s quite standard to negotiate if you think an offer is on the low side. The job is unlikely to be withdrawn if you ask for money, and if that did happen I’d question whether you want to work for an employer who is so hypersensitive.
Know your worth
Women tend to be a bit more reticent to talk about their achievements. In my experience they need to have more confidence in their own abilities – men will big up what they’ve done to get a pay rise, and to compete women need to turn up the volume.
Work together
If you suspect men in your organisation are being paid more, look your boss in the eye and say, “I want you to assure me that I’m paid equivalent to my peers”. If you’re not getting a straight answer, talk to your peer group and consider taking direct action to fix inequality.
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 194hp at 5,600rpm
Torque: 275Nm from 2,000-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Price: from Dh155,000
On sale: now
Meydan race card
6.30pm: Baniyas (PA) Group 2 Dh125,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,200m
7.40pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,400m
8.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh170,000 (D) 1,900m
8.50pm: Rated Conditions (TB) Dh240,000 (D) 1,600m
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh175,000 (D)1,200m
10pm: Handicap (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,400m
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League last-16, second leg:
Real Madrid 1 (Asensio 70'), Ajax 4 (Ziyech 7', Neres 18', Tadic 62', Schone 72')
Ajax win 5-3 on aggregate
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Letstango.com
Started: June 2013
Founder: Alex Tchablakian
Based: Dubai
Industry: e-commerce
Initial investment: Dh10 million
Investors: Self-funded
Total customers: 300,000 unique customers every month
Kandahar%20
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RESULT
Everton 2 Huddersfield Town 0
Everton: Sigurdsson (47'), Calvert-Lewin (73')
Man of the Match: Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton)
Explainer: Tanween Design Programme
Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.
The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.
It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.
The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.
Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Equaliser 2
Director Antoine Fuqua
Starring: Denzel Washington, Bill Pullman, Melissa Leo, Ashton Sanders
Three stars
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Meydan racecard:
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 (PA) Group 1 | US$75,000 (Dirt) | 2,200 metres
7.05pm: UAE 1000 Guineas (TB) Listed | $250,000 (D) | 1,600m
7.40pm: Meydan Classic Trial (TB) Conditions | $100,000 (Turf) | 1,400m
8.15pm: Al Shindagha Sprint (TB) Group 3 | $200,000 (D) | 1,200m
8.50pm: Handicap (TB) | $175,000 (D) | 1,600m
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) | $175,000 (T) | 2,000m
10pm: Handicap (TB) | $135,000 (T) | 1,600m
Red Joan
Director: Trevor Nunn
Starring: Judi Dench, Sophie Cookson, Tereza Srbova
Rating: 3/5 stars
Off-roading in the UAE: How to checklist
Match info
Uefa Champions League Group F
Manchester City v Hoffenheim, midnight (Wednesday, UAE)
MATCH INFO
Rugby World Cup (all times UAE)
Final: England v South Africa, Saturday, 1pm