1980s Aerial Photo of DCC shows its expanded buildings and 18 hole Golf Course. Dubai Rugby Club and Dharjeeling Cricket are shown as established in the same area.
This photo shows the expanded DCC now with a separate Sports Building.
DCC's early years
Initially DCC lacked basic amenities to attract the increasing number of families arriving in Dubai. There was no telephone. It was impossible to call a Gulf Radio Taxi even if the Driver knew where to go. Not all new members were golfers. There was increasing resentment at stopping activities in the small Club House while Golfers had their prize presentations.
Communications were improved by DCC buying its own telephone poles and members arranging installation. The Telephone Company was then happy to install a telephone. However it was a long time before Taxis Drivers would willingly pick up passengers from "remote" DCC. Installing a swimming pool and tennis courts dealt with meeting family requirements in the short term. But the small Club House problem remained.
Major Changes
DCC's golfers solved their problem by installing a separate Golf Clubhouse. This was a redundant prefabricated staff accommodation unit donated by a Construction Company. Members completely refurbished the unit. This "temporary" building remained in use for another 35 years! More about DCC Golf here >>>
DCC approached Dubai Drama Group with a proposal to share costs in building a Club House extension. Some undertanding must have been reached because DCC built a Club House extension incorporating a stage and a sunken sloping floor for stage performance seating. Result was a Club House unsuited to DCC's needs (sunken sloping floor was a nuisance and stage a waste of space) while the Dubai Drama Group never staged at performance at DCC. It was years before the Dubai Drama Group and Dubai Community Theatre and Arts Centre established independent facilities. DCC lived with these shortcomings for several years before another major extension removed both the sunken floor and the stage.
Major Expansion
DCC developed a "Grand Plan" for a major development to be carried out in 3 stages. Stage 1 envisaged redevelopment of the existing Clubhouse, Stage 2: Clubhouse extension to include new facilities and Stage 3: New Sports Hall incorporating Squash Courts. Increasing demand for sports faciltities and financial considerations led to Stage 3 being built first, Stage 2 never being built and Stage 1 not carried out until the end of the 1980s. By the end of the 1980s DCC was well established with a growing membership.