Dubai's Al Maktoum Bridge

July 1962. Start of building Al Maktoum Bridge Road Ramp being reclaimed with dredged material from Dubai Creek.Al Maktoum Bridge was built by Overseas AST. They were an Austrian Engineering and Construction Company who established in Dubai in 1959. Overseas AST were responsible for constructing many of Dubai's first projects. Sir William Halcrow and Partners were Consultants for Al Maktoum Bridge.

July 1962. Piling operations at the start of building the bridge's supporting pillars.

Concreting of a support pillar in progress.

Building the steel reinforcing framework before concreting a support pillar.

Al Maktoum Bridge's support pillars nearing completion.

September 1962. Steel Beams for Al Maktoum Bridge's construction are off loaded from Ellermans Line's Ship "City of Poona"

Main Girders were put into place using crane barges. In the background is Sheikh Ahmed of Qatar's Palace on Dubai side of the Creek.

Photo taken in 1962 shows one of the main girders being placed on the supporting pillars. Note Construction Workers are all Europeans.

Installation of main supporting girders in progress.

Al Maktoum Bridge's supporting structure completed.

Al Maktoum Bridge now spans Dubai Creek.

Building the bridge's roadway commences.

Bridge's roadway building in progress.

Al Maktoum Bridge construction completed.

Photo shows the completed fixed section of Al Maktoum Bridge. Photo is taken looking towards Dubai side of the Creek.

Shows Overseas AST's Site Works on the Deira side of Dubai Creek. This area had been reclaimed with dredged material. Site was later developed into Dubai's Oilfields Supplies Centre which supplied oil field materials and equipment to the offshore oil industry. Oilfields Supplies Centre later relocated to Jebel Ali Free Zone. This Site is now under development. The completed Al Maktoum Bridge can be seen, also Cement Storage Sheds and loading Jetties on Dubai side of the Creek.

May 23rd 1963. Photo shows the Ceremonial Guard awaiting Sheikh Rashid's arrival to formally open Al Maktoum Bridge. Photo is probably taken looking towards Dubai side of the Creek. Sheikh Rashid would have driven either from his Zabeel Palace or the Government Offices in Dubai.

May 23rd 1963. Sheikh Rashid cutting the ribbon to formally opened Al Maktoum Bridge on 23rd May 1963. Sheikh Rashid is in the centre . Neville Allen (Sir William Halcrow and Partners) is holding the ribbon on Sheikh Rashid's right. Ing. Otto Bulard (Overseas AST) is on his left. On the right of the photo is a Dubai Police Officer. Most of Dubai Police's Officer were then British, usually recruited from Police Forces in Palestine, Iraq and Kuwait. Sheikh Rashid then went to the Control Tower and pressed the button to officially raise the bridge for the first time.

By the time this photo was taken, Al Maktoum Bridge had been officially open for nearly two years although the lifting bridge section was not yet built. Cargo and people could now move easily between Dubai and Diera sides of the Creek. As a consequence the Deira side of the Creek began to develop. Al Maktoum Bridge played an important role in Dubai's development as a Regional Trading Centre.
More About Al Maktoum Bridge HERE