An unrecorded and meticulously compiled blueprint map of Dubai and the United Arab Emirates in 1979, created by Halcrow International Partnerships, an engineering consultancy firm involved in the development of Dubai.

The map labels most of the city's government buildings, important infrastructure, mosques, hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, sport facilities, the airport, and the harbour. Many on the notes on the map are clearly aimed at foreigners employed by Halcrow For example, it is mentioned that singing and drinking are allowed at the Rugby Club. The English-speaking school and Protestant church are also labelled. Several Halcrow offices are identified on the map, as are "Halcrow blocks - to be added", a reference to future Halcrow development projects.

This map was first issued in October 1976, with further editions in September 1977, September 1978, and February 1979. Our example is the fourth edition of February 1979 - the roads of Sharjah and Hatta are the most notable improvement on this edition.

Besides the important city map of Dubai, there is also a large map of the northern UAE, highlighting new dual carriageway roads, proposed roads under construction, archaeological sites, towns and villages, airfields, and cultivated areas.

Published less than a decade after the UAE achieved independence, this map is an important record of the early development of the nation, and of Dubai as a global city. We have found no other examples of this map for sale on the open market, nor have we been able to locate examples in institutional collections.

Framed. [MEAST4850]