Al Nasr Square as it used to be in 1960s

When this photo was taken the square was not named Al Nasr Square or Bani Yas Square. Both those names came later. Around the end of the 1960s the square was transformed into a park area and renamed Al Nasr Square in honour of Gamal Abdul Nasr then Ruler of Egypt. In the 1980s A Nasr Square became Bani Yas Square when the area surrounding the Square was redeveloped.

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Open Air Cinema Hospital Road

No traffic problems in 1960s!

Al Nasr SquareTraffic was non existent with people walking and carrying their goods in the traditional way. Nevertheless the Square was always busy with Dubai's Traders selling goods to sailors from the many dhows moored in Dubai Creek. These Stores generally sold marine engines, propellers and parts for the dhows as well as fire fighting equipment. Dubai's Traders imported these goods from UK and Europe. NOTE the stones marking the edge of the car park!

Bastakia

 

Al Nasr Park was a car park, not a public park in the 1960s. That change when the area was upgraded and dedicated to Gamul Abdul Nasser, President of Egypt.

Open Air Cinema. There were several Open Air Cinemas in Dubai and surrounds. These cinemas were popular with the many Workers and Trades people from Asian Sub Continent. Cinemas showed mainly Indian and Egyptian films.

Jashanmal's First Store was in this building together with Al Nasr technical Trading Company. Jashanmal's sold Food Stuff including frozen foods and the only Store in Dubai to import and sell foreign newspapers. Al Nasr Trading sold technical equipment and engineering supplies. Both companies are still operating but relocated to different premises in the late 1970s.