Time Frame: Roadside assistance

Before the Adnoc Oasis became the refuge of motorists between the Emirates, a more makeshift kind of roadside service was common.

The cornucopia that is the modern motorway service station has largely replaced the roadside stall as a source of refreshment on long journeys.

But what these impromptu rest halts lacked in amenities - no KFC or Subway, let alone cash withdrawal facilities or pine-scented air fresheners - they made up for in charm and genuine customer service.

This image of one particular market was captured in January 1980, near Sharm, on the road between Khor Fakkan and Dibba. Farmers would take a selection of produce to sell, with Friday being the busiest day of the week.

Scenes like this have not completely disappeared, though, with one of the most popular Friday markets still in Fujairah at Masafi. And with stalls selling everything from carpets to pots and incense burners, it is still more than a match for any Eppco or Adnoc.

Time Frame is a series that opens a window into the nation's past. Readers are invited to make contributions to [e-mail]