Abu Dhabi Social Club reflects old and new in UAE

It was nearly dusk Abu Dhabi When a group of majestic people landed on the beach.

They arrived in costumes similar to the famous British pirate Blackbeard and assembled nearby Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel Sit today. Although they didn’t know it in 1962, they were making history.

A sinister wind whipped up a dust storm, forcing the party in, and they decided they needed a permanent base.

Unbeknownst to them, the group had just held its first meeting the club.

related: Long-serving manager of historic Abu Dhabi social club retires

The Pirate Party reflects its time: an ancient world of colonists, gentleman oil prospectors and adventurers in the twilight world of the British Empire in the Gulf. It is therefore fitting that it was opened by British political agent Hugh Boustead, who won the Military Cross at the Battle of Arras during the First World War and represented Britain at the 1920 Olympics , and eventually retired to Al Ain.

“In the 1960s, the bay was full of colorful and interesting people,” recalls Edna Green, a founding member of the first pirate event.write on 50’s clubpublished in 2012, she added: “They both met at The Club, so as an early member you are surrounded by real people.”

From these humble beginnings, the club has hosted over 50,000 Abu Dhabi residents from no less than 84 countries in its 6-year history.

The first clubhouse was Henderson’s Folly, a building approximately 500 meters from where the club is today.it starts with Edward Hendersona British oil merchant who used the building as his base for his trip to Abu Dhabi.

early no phone or proper road Abu Dhabi in the 1960sFor those lucky enough to have a radio, the BBC World Service channel crackles from a repeater station on Marsilla. Oman. There is also no modern water supply, street lights or electricity. Generators are unreliable. The houses are mainly made of coral or palm leaves and earth. The buckets were filled with fresh water, and the food supply was limited to rice tetras and oddly shriveled potatoes.

Therefore, at Henderson’s Folly, members must manage to the best of their ability. There is no restaurant, and kerosene refrigerators and home cooking are orders of the day.

“The first time I came was during school holidays in the 1960s,” Michael Daly, son of one of the club’s early presidents, Michael Daly, told National.

“Everything was pretty basic. The cable wooden drum on the beach was the table. But it was groundbreaking stuff,” added Daly, who remains a member to this day.

By the late 1960s, membership surged against the backdrop of the oil boom and plans for a larger port, which meant a new home was needed. Sheikh Zayed, who became ruler of Abu Dhabi in 1966, granted the land and the club moved to its current location on 13 June 1968.

The facilities are still rudimentary, but there are bars, restaurants and beaches. At night, the club is illuminated by candles and hurricane lights, while tape players provide music. “The boat will come in from Doha and land on the beach,” early member Ted Willis said on Club forty yearsedited by Emirati cultural historian Peter Hellyer.

“I’d go there and ask for six boxes of 7-Ups and go to the club myself.”

By the 1970s, the waiting list to join the club was long. So much so that hopeful members had to endure scrutiny at cocktail parties. The procedure continues once you become a member. After 7.30pm, formal evening dress must be worn. Ladies wear party attire, while men wear ties and shirts. The membership fee for a family was AED 320 at the time.

Over the years, the club has weathered recessions, avoided relocations, and survived worrying periods such as 1990 Gulf War“As families left, thousands of troops arrived, navy ships were packed with Mina Zayed, and planes were constantly overhead,” Club forty years reveal.

“On the port roads after dark, trucks zip back and forth continuously, keeping residents awake to the noise. By early 1991, Abu Dhabi seemed to be back in the 1960s… The city was full of single men and many women and children Still on ‘vacation’.”

After the war, the pace of change in Abu Dhabi accelerated. New waterfront hotels, restaurants and leisure facilities are opening, and clubs need to respond. A new wellness center and renovation of the facility ensure it keeps pace with the times.

“If we don’t raise the bar in terms of service and infrastructure, our future is not guaranteed,” the club’s general manager Mike McGrath, who retired this week after more than two decades in the role, told National.

The club has always reflected the experience of the city. “When things are going well in Abu Dhabi, things are going well for the club,” said McGrath, who led the club through difficult times Coronavirus disease the pandemic, when it had to close. “When there’s a struggle, it’s reflected at our membership level.”

Despite the challenges, more than 35,000 members have experienced the club since then That Pirate party on the beach.Along the way, it has hosted performances by Welsh star Tom Jones, Canadian artist Brian Adams, former British Prime Minister Ted Heath and famous British explorers. Wilfred Tessig.

Always a club, not a UK club, membership remains through application and volunteering remains at its core. It retains the British spirit but now has multinational membership. With a sailing club, sports club, a swimming pool, two beaches, a swimming pool, a gym and restaurants, it is a home away from home for countless people. There is no doubt that it is a sure place in a city that is constantly changing.

Events to mark the 60th anniversary are also planned for later this year, including a 1960s-themed welcome back party in September.

“The club is part of Abu Dhabi’s modern history,” Daly said. “It means a lot to expats and Emiratis. Without it, people would lose their way.”

Updated: July 4, 2022 at 5:13 pm