![The Sixth Form Centre under construction in 1991.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ITSE5NXNXBAYRPB43AF3IAXR3Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=a65567b447b061301cc32b33f4c6b781a281599a3c39b412b7a4b1abc2d0e2e2&width=400&height=225)
![Dubai College's reception building in 1988. All photos: Dubai College](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XJXKAY3CJNHHPBJEW7L4T3HXV4.jpg?smart=true&auth=778c5024ba2cde6cb27b80dfd9961f76fd6c593d20dbaacc6f46e421a2ab3a3e&width=400&height=225)
![Pupils during art class in the 1980s.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FGODLQGGCRAB3FVTERHODSHA64.jpg?smart=true&auth=124214ba387eadb95057fba1ab307de13953e3450f1059ab4247498cceb69020&width=400&height=225)
![The school's first bus pictured in 1980. Dubai College is one of the city’s oldest schools.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QWZUF76DR5G2PEKN5UK6WW7ICY.jpg?smart=true&auth=56637131363b1d478976efd3a863f57be1dabfd8e0322fede6ea0dcf2dde5861&width=400&height=225)
![The science room in the 1980s.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/66RFAZOLFFAXPITUNLQBL2X43Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=793a19ad3a479dcf4a60dc1b6bcc4c33811af67c8654f20dc3b6745cd7d80c4d&width=400&height=225)
![The old sports court in 1983.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WPKWJWMJVVDJTLX6SAAAOE6EW4.jpg?smart=true&auth=983d1e40b5cd665c92a20ab42bcba739ce91121d65a43ee7f8f01c1b710c7fd0&width=400&height=225)
![Pupils conduct experiments in a science class.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4R7EBQMY2REBPP6PRBJOQF36AQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=1ed6cbe0a55f180a39a1bfb46db46acbf6fef7f55945070a7685a8779223ba48&width=400&height=225)
![Plot B141 in Umm Suqeim pictured in 1980.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ATL63L6HRND6RAONYQ4VC3QO7Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=5b34d6e9846078f4d62077290f37264dadc900d13526698b31a67aa6844b7b7c&width=400&height=225)
![Staff quarters on campus under construction.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BYDMSSIULJBNDAEFKLYFJ25AXA.jpg?smart=true&auth=05b27577c9ad6d00f7e98a318ba989db36fd11eb2196f90249baa86159d8d4f2&width=400&height=225)
![The beach road outside campus in Umm Suqeim in 1980.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/R4SBJMD4PVGQFKUDHRLCEVSKWQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=be90c109e5106905a7d4ef941ffebd083e560030d66bbfd65c5acf2a12b1f566&width=400&height=225)
![The physical education changing room block, in 1989.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XNFB7S7N6JEINOVQFSZOLSN2TI.jpg?smart=true&auth=0d25ec53199e6668bf019c6e1a9ed72d17b160cd7ceea75276dad980c31db5eb&width=400&height=225)
![The campus in 1994 after extensions in previous years.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JREONEXRORB4ZFV5EYQTQIBVLI.jpg?smart=true&auth=89c55fcdb1a7fccc8d61f749cc9b3872e6f45f24e2d5cfdb4ad63b6cb97dbb55&width=400&height=225)
![The school's buses in the 1980s.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AAOR3ZPZE5GRTHAIPOZCZGSKGY.jpg?smart=true&auth=442f866d10b645e67274ce9ee825330a1721e6b7807e3f9c471742dea6eddbe8&width=400&height=225)
![Dubai College's entrance in 2000.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2ZSWJ7GOGZFANBKBXVDK2HIBUQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=f62fa6ef72222a4a8713402d35ec667e81734420f06057c6a46614b038e8a448&width=400&height=225)
![The swimming pool on campus in 1984.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RDV3DOU4QFGOHGTA6TKNTWVX3E.jpg?smart=true&auth=45c5ab702f7402aa982db6db0d3d24fd90ef47eea8ec0d36f224e5bc866adf21&width=400&height=225)
![Foundations of the new campus block in 1982.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WIO3J2C7CJAAXKG37EI4HEUXPA.jpg?smart=true&auth=4502de885988730d7224dd5a9848e4621d67f3b6dc788bc8dea57c1097a6660f&width=400&height=225)
![Dubai College as seen from above in 1982.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/N5QST4JYBFEYDHNYR6AQB2FZZQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=2c90fc44c9c41c4073a550d3ad8935fae12d086e4e804c4b4a799c3f1ac7d79a&width=400&height=225)
![The Sixth Form Centre under construction in 1991.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ITSE5NXNXBAYRPB43AF3IAXR3Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=a65567b447b061301cc32b33f4c6b781a281599a3c39b412b7a4b1abc2d0e2e2&width=400&height=225)
![Dubai College's reception building in 1988. All photos: Dubai College](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XJXKAY3CJNHHPBJEW7L4T3HXV4.jpg?smart=true&auth=778c5024ba2cde6cb27b80dfd9961f76fd6c593d20dbaacc6f46e421a2ab3a3e&width=400&height=225)
![Pupils during art class in the 1980s.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FGODLQGGCRAB3FVTERHODSHA64.jpg?smart=true&auth=124214ba387eadb95057fba1ab307de13953e3450f1059ab4247498cceb69020&width=400&height=225)
![The school's first bus pictured in 1980. Dubai College is one of the city’s oldest schools.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QWZUF76DR5G2PEKN5UK6WW7ICY.jpg?smart=true&auth=56637131363b1d478976efd3a863f57be1dabfd8e0322fede6ea0dcf2dde5861&width=400&height=225)
![The science room in the 1980s.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/66RFAZOLFFAXPITUNLQBL2X43Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=793a19ad3a479dcf4a60dc1b6bcc4c33811af67c8654f20dc3b6745cd7d80c4d&width=400&height=225)
![The old sports court in 1983.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WPKWJWMJVVDJTLX6SAAAOE6EW4.jpg?smart=true&auth=983d1e40b5cd665c92a20ab42bcba739ce91121d65a43ee7f8f01c1b710c7fd0&width=400&height=225)
![Pupils conduct experiments in a science class.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4R7EBQMY2REBPP6PRBJOQF36AQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=1ed6cbe0a55f180a39a1bfb46db46acbf6fef7f55945070a7685a8779223ba48&width=400&height=225)
![Plot B141 in Umm Suqeim pictured in 1980.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ATL63L6HRND6RAONYQ4VC3QO7Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=5b34d6e9846078f4d62077290f37264dadc900d13526698b31a67aa6844b7b7c&width=400&height=225)
![Staff quarters on campus under construction.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BYDMSSIULJBNDAEFKLYFJ25AXA.jpg?smart=true&auth=05b27577c9ad6d00f7e98a318ba989db36fd11eb2196f90249baa86159d8d4f2&width=400&height=225)
![The beach road outside campus in Umm Suqeim in 1980.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/R4SBJMD4PVGQFKUDHRLCEVSKWQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=be90c109e5106905a7d4ef941ffebd083e560030d66bbfd65c5acf2a12b1f566&width=400&height=225)
![The physical education changing room block, in 1989.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XNFB7S7N6JEINOVQFSZOLSN2TI.jpg?smart=true&auth=0d25ec53199e6668bf019c6e1a9ed72d17b160cd7ceea75276dad980c31db5eb&width=400&height=225)
![The campus in 1994 after extensions in previous years.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JREONEXRORB4ZFV5EYQTQIBVLI.jpg?smart=true&auth=89c55fcdb1a7fccc8d61f749cc9b3872e6f45f24e2d5cfdb4ad63b6cb97dbb55&width=400&height=225)
![The school's buses in the 1980s.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AAOR3ZPZE5GRTHAIPOZCZGSKGY.jpg?smart=true&auth=442f866d10b645e67274ce9ee825330a1721e6b7807e3f9c471742dea6eddbe8&width=400&height=225)
![Dubai College's entrance in 2000.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2ZSWJ7GOGZFANBKBXVDK2HIBUQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=f62fa6ef72222a4a8713402d35ec667e81734420f06057c6a46614b038e8a448&width=400&height=225)
![The swimming pool on campus in 1984.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RDV3DOU4QFGOHGTA6TKNTWVX3E.jpg?smart=true&auth=45c5ab702f7402aa982db6db0d3d24fd90ef47eea8ec0d36f224e5bc866adf21&width=400&height=225)
![Foundations of the new campus block in 1982.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WIO3J2C7CJAAXKG37EI4HEUXPA.jpg?smart=true&auth=4502de885988730d7224dd5a9848e4621d67f3b6dc788bc8dea57c1097a6660f&width=400&height=225)
![Dubai College as seen from above in 1982.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/N5QST4JYBFEYDHNYR6AQB2FZZQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=2c90fc44c9c41c4073a550d3ad8935fae12d086e4e804c4b4a799c3f1ac7d79a&width=400&height=225)
![The Sixth Form Centre under construction in 1991.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ITSE5NXNXBAYRPB43AF3IAXR3Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=a65567b447b061301cc32b33f4c6b781a281599a3c39b412b7a4b1abc2d0e2e2&width=400&height=225)
From desert classrooms to Oxbridge, Dubai College marks five decades
One of the emirate's oldest schools went from a few hundred pupils to more than 1,000 - and now teachers are looking to the future
![Anam Rizvi](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F87bb1498-1e45-493f-9f35-cbae78f6f52b.png?smart=true&auth=fa4172315f8e7009403787975bfcf9a11521dcd852ffd3bf8362a1112a39a830&width=70&height=70)
Anam Rizvi
November 25, 2021
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