Old Bastakia

Dubai's First Traffic Lights as it used to be in 1971

Dubai's First Traffic Lights were installed in Al Fahidi Street opposite V V and Sons. Why the lights were installed at this junction is unclear. There was not much traffic plus it was a "T" Junction so not a real test of new Traffic Lights.

Dubai's Drivers have always been impatient, no more so than when waiting at Traffic Lights. Drivers sounded their car horns if they thought the Traffic Lights were taking too long to change. For no apparent reason these Traffic Lights were switched off between midnight and 6 am. At least Residents of nearby Apartment Blocks could get some sleep. However no one needed an alarm clock! Promptly at 6am the car horns started again.

Footnote

"These Traffic Lights were installed at the request of the municipality No.2 Boss Mr Abdul Ghaffor. They were purchased from GEC Elliott Automation (long since gone) and installed by myself supervising Cable Jointers from the Dubai State Telephone Company. I remember we put more Traffic Lights in over the next few years. The next set of Traffic Lights we installed was at Al Faheedi Fort junction."
Steve Camm (Dubai Resident 1969-78)

Traffic Lights Photo Gallery

CLICK HERE to see a Photo Gallery of Traffic Lights and Al Fahidi Street.

Sheikh Rashid