The history of air-conditioning in the UAE - in pictures
Wind towers, such as these beside Dubai Creek, were a traditional form of air conditioning. Razan Alzayani / The National
Dubai Creek in 1959 or 1960 with wind towers, which worked by drawing in air to cool warm rooms beneath. Photo: Crown Copyright Images
Winds towers are still effective today as a form of air conditioning. Pawan Singh / Abu Dhabi Media Company
Powered air conditioning in the form of unit conditioners, such as these, were among the first to arrive in the Gulf. Ryan Carter / The National
Some early conditioners were not installed properly and one in Dubai blew cool air out to the garden and hot air inside. Lee Hoagland / The National.
Today cooling a room is as simple as pushing a button. The National
Air-conditioning units are a part of virtually every building in the UAE. Sarah Dea / The National
Even streetside bus shelters are air conditioned. Nicole Hill / The National
In some accommodation in Al Satwa area in 2008, many rooms had no windows, with a single light bulb as the only source of light, yet air conditioning was available in most units. Getty Images
Wind towers in the Bastakia Quarter of Old Dubai. Getty Images
