ABU DHABI // While the club that gave Tourist Club Area its name is long gone, the place still holds fond memories for those who lived here during the city's formative years.
With the area itself being renamed to Al Zahiyah, they say a final farewell to what was in the 1970s the city’s most popular recreational facility.
Emirati Ahmed Al Mazrouei was a regular visitor to the tourist club in his youth. He said it was only the place in town where everybody was welcome, regardless of their nationality.
“The area was so popular because of the club. It was open for all nationalities and was the best place to unwind with a series of entertainment activities there. I used to go the club twice a week,” he said.
“The last time I remember that I visited the place was about ten years back.
“Mostly Emiratis would have lived in other parts of Abu Dhabi, not particularly in the Tourist Club Area, but regularly they would turn up for the entertainment here.”
The area became known as Tourist Club when a beach was built by the Government in the 1970s to provide leisure activities for the people in Abu Dhabi. The facility, which was beside Le Meridien hotel, included entertainment such as a bowling alley, swimming pool, kids’ play area and shisha cafe.
Abdul Shakoor, a Bangladeshi sales executive who has lived in the area for 18 years, also reminisced about the place. He said, in the time before Al Maryah Island had been developed, he particularly remembered the unspoilt views.
“Before there was a public beach and people would come from all nationalities and the view was enchanting,” he said.
He also remembered that British nationals would host private parties and entertainment shows there.
But he wasn’t surprised that the club was eventually demolished.
“Abu Dhabi city has been expanding very quickly and new developments are needed for better city planning. That’s why the government would have erased that structure,” he said.
“Sheikhs also would come to the club,” remembered Emirati Abdullah Al Kindi, who lived in the Tourist Club Area for 18 years.
“In 1972 and 1973, many tourists were visiting the area and this was the best area. People would come to that place for swimming and entertainment,” said Mr Al Kindi.
“Most of the European nationals would reside in the area and visit the nearby club. There are about ten buildings in the vicinity that were full of Germans, British and other European nationals. They all were working with petroleum companies of the Emirate.”
As well as the renaming of Tourist Club Area, some residents think more changes are on the way.
Egyptian Salahuddin is head of maintenance at the Abu Dhabi Marina Club, situated next to Abu Dhabi Mall.
He said: “I heard that two bridges are going to be linked to Al Zahiyah from Al Maryah Island and this entire area will be cleaned.”
He had heard rumours that the Marina Club, which is situated next to Abu Dhabi Mall, could possibly be demolished to make way for the bridges.
“Our contract here will expire by May and it’s not going to be renewed. When any of the existing nightclubs’ licences here expire they will not be renewed. Already two clubs have been shut,” he said.
Mohammed Nashwan, a Syrian businessman who has lived in Abu Dhabi for 35 years, said in the 1970s, the tourist club was all people had to entertain them.
“Some 35 years back Abu Dhabi was a small place with no big buildings. There was the tourist club, park and a beach where people went to enjoy themselves and there was nothing else.
“I used to visit the club too around that time to unwind.”
anwar@thenational.ae
