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Dubai resident Len Chapman only planned to stay in the city for a few years when he arrived in 1971 with Port Rashid's "start up" team.
"I ended up staying more than 30 years working at Dubai Ports (now DP World) and I've seen how Dubai has changed from a small coastal trading town to an internationally recognised financial and tourist hub."
Over this period Chapman's collected happy snaps of Dubai's development, which has recently led to his website dubaiasitusedtobe.com, in order to share his memories with a wider audience.
Inspired by his efforts, Dubai Summer Surprises organisers are currently holding a Dubai As It Used To Be exhibition until August 7 at Ibn Battuta shopping mall.
Rare photographs
Chapman and other residents who have avidly documented Dubai's rapid expansion will also exhibit their photographs at the event.
Around 120 rare photographs of Dubai's landmarks and memorable events by resident amateur and professional photographers are being displayed.
"My photos of old Dubai now have historical and nostalgic interest — I recovered faded snapshots, negatives and slides," Chapman says.
His website is also peppered with interesting stories from days gone by.
Dubai Shopping Festival Office's senior events coordinator Tshering Idnani says the event "captures the essence of old Dubai and offers a rare glimpse into some of the major developments that happened in the past 30 years".
"Like many other events in DSS 2008, this exhibition will be highly entertaining and informative as visitors will be mesmerised by these rare photographs of the past."
Historic occasions such as the construction of Al Maktoum Bridge, the formation of the Dubai Police, rowing abras, Wadi bashing, and the city's first airport are featured in the display. Rare photographs of people and settlements going back as far as the 1950s are also on show.
Telling time
It's not just mindless entertainment that you'll find at Modhesh Fun City. Kids are learning to tell time as well as make friends and build projects at the Flik Flak zone during DSS 2008.
Created in 1987, Flik Flak is a watch brand dedicated solely to children and is the first company of its kind to run these classes, say organisers. Flik Flak employee Karman Carermencite says, "As well as developing very trendy watches we have also developed a method of teaching children to tell the time, which is what we are here to share with the little guests to our zone.
It is an educational concept that enables children as young as four to tell the time."
Relax your body and mind
This summer, weary DSS shoppers can beat the heat with Angsana Spa's range of body polishes that cleanse and soothe the skin.
The spa is currently participating in the DSS 2008 Spa Packages with 25 spas providing special-price packages to visitors throughout the summer.
Of particular interest, organisers say, is the Cinnamon Lustre treatment that uses natural ingredients such as cinnamon, carrot and oatmeal, which are known to soften and soothe sun-baked skin, giving it the glow it deserves.
Also something to try is the Oasis massage that is designed for mature, sensitive or sun exposed skin. The treatment involves a full body conditioning massage using six oils containing with vitamins and minerals. For more information visit www.angsanaspa.com
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