Expat of 44 years recalls Dubai’s journey to cosmopolitan city

  • Date: 23-Sep-2021
  • Source: Khaleej Times
  • Sector:Economy
  • Country:UAE
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Expat of 44 years recalls Dubai’s journey to cosmopolitan city

These days, first-time visitors to Dubai marvel at the sight of the towering Burj Khalifa. But back in the 1980s, Indian expat Amjad Shahbandari experienced the same feeling when he saw the Dubai World Trade Centre and Deira Clocktower. In the olden days, Dubai was a drastically different city — and Amjad has seen it all. Four decades ago, a person could buy a car load of fruits and vegetables from Al Hamriya Market for just Dh25. High-rise buildings were a rarity. A taxi from Dubai to Abu Dhabi cost just Dh5. But now, Amjad, a resident of 44 years, is bidding goodbye to his second home today. “When I came to Dubai, I never had any idea as to how long I will live in this city. And now, life will be tough after staying here for almost all my life,” he said. Hailing from Bhatkal, a coastal town in the southern state of Karnataka, India, Amjad arrived in Dubai on August 15, 1977. At the time, only a few Indian cities had connectivity to Dubai and some were layover destinations for international carriers. “I flew from Bombay by Biman Bangladesh Airlines and it was the first of day