Old Bastakia

How Squash started in Dubai as it used to be.

Dubai's first Squash Court was built by Overseas AST in the 1960s on a site which later became Port Rashid. Overseas AST was an Austrian Construction Company established in Dubai in 1959. The Squash Court was part of a small office and sports complex for Overseas AST Staff located adjacent to the first European School in Dubai. Later the School became Dubai English Speaking School. Contractor Costains took over the complex with the announcement of Port Rashid's development in 1967. The sports complax ans school became Costain's Site Offices and plant yard.

Dubai's First Squash Court

Dubai's First Squash Court was rudimentary. It had a concrete floor, four blockwork walls, was lit by four street lights and had no roof!. The area around the Squash and Tennis Courts was a pipe storage yard. Any ball that went out of Court was lost! But the Court became the cradle for the growth of Squash in Dubai. The Court was accessible and more people began to play. A Squash Ladder was formed.

• Click here to see Dubai's First Squash Court was located.
• Click here to see what is probably the only photo of Dubai's First Squash Court.

Growth of Squash

Sir William Halcrow and Partners were Consulting Engineers for Port Rashid and friendly rivals with Costains. They started playing Team Squash. As Dubai grew, more squash courts were built. Dutco, Dubal, Shell Oil Company, Halcrows all built Squash Courts. Chicago Beach Hotel and some of the new housing complexes built Squash Courts for their Residents. There were sufficient Players and Teams to support a Squash League.

Squash Leagues

In 1974, Dubai Country Club built two squash courts. A growing membership enabled DCC to field several Squash Teams. The number of Teams and ready availability of facilities led to the Heineken Squash League being established under the sponsorship of Gray Mackenzie and Co. Teams participated from Dubai and Sharjah, initially in a single Division but eventually in several Divisions.

The players formed the Dubai and Sharjah Squash League to administer the game. Later, Dubai Police became interested in Squash and developed successful Teams. With this local involvement, the Dubai and Sharjah Squash League became the UAE Squash Rackets Association in Dubai affiliated to the Ministry of Sport.

Women in Dubai Squash

Women played competitive Squash from the very early days of Squash in Dubai. A Ladies Squash League catered for the many Ladies' Teams. Women also played regularly for Mixed Teams in the Main League.

Sheikh Rashid