A small hill with villas dotted around, mature gardens, a couple of schools, a small shopping centre.
In the old days we had friends who lived there and it was considered a bit of a trek out from Dubai because it was way out in the desert then.
I've always liked the country village atmosphere...
Here it is this morning:
The construction, or is that destruction, fences are up all around, gates barring access.
I knew that redevelopment was planned but I didn't realise it was under way already.
What a shame.
24 comments:
More insanity.
I thought you wouldn't be happy Keefie!
What a shame...progress/shogress. Remember that ratty old Choitrams? Some of those people in JE Village had been there for decades.
Jesus! I hope some idiots REALIZE what they are doing to this place?
Very sad. I don't understand why they couldn't just leave it and build something somewhere else.
All of the reasons to come to Dubai are being slowly eroded.
I was a resident of the village for 17 yrs, brought up my kids there, built up my home and garden, had pets...you know it was a real home. August 31st was the dead line to get out..I shed many tears..Spent more years in this home than in any other. It's been a real wrench to leave and settling in this new 'box'..paying 3 times the rent...it hurts.. And do you know what??? It seems that all plans to redevelop the village were scrapped a while ago..Madness!! It's now a crumbling barricaded ghost town...I could go on and on and....
Hi, I lived there in 1978 when my father was working on the port construction. It was a great place to grow up; school from 8am till 1pm, as much zam-zam as you could drink at the club, and not forgetting the wonderful (if somewhat temperemental) Channel 33. Whatever happened to the first ever classes of JA Primary (apart from reaching 40)?. STEVE.HURST@LIVE.CO.UK
Lived at Villa 103 Road F for 20 years - we left in July 2009 to come "home" - but home was JAV - longest time I've ever stayed in one place (kids grew up there, played for the mighty Jebel Ali FC and won the league in 1992, wife taught at the school)- just cuts me up to see the fencing up - there was no need to destroy this community - Dubai is destroying its soul
Finally left JAV in December 2007 after 15 happy years of "Village life"
As everyone else has said, I have no idea why Dubai is doing this to everything that has a history of community - ski club, JAV are just two examples.
The only positive is that I believe I was lucky enough to have the best years that Dubai had to offer. The time to leave was looming anyway so being "pushed out" was probably just a prod by fate.
No doubt Sheikh Rashid is turning in his grave at the sight of what is happening to his city
Lived there 77-78. Never been back, but a lot of fond memories.
I went to Jebel Ali School - my dad worked for MJAC - we lived at Villa 184 - would love to here from anyone who was there around that time 1977- 1980. pineapplesg21@hotmail.com. Suzanne
Suzanne, I was here then but only visited JAV to visit friends who lived there. I can't remember the villa number - he worked at Jebel Ali Hotel. In those days it was a real drive out into the desert to get to JAV, now it's joined all the way to Dubai city.
wow, this is the first time I see this blog, congrats, I lived in villa 225 from 1993-2003. Have many photo's from the UAE on worldisround.com and loads of videos from 1988-2003 on Dubai and Dubai Rallies (that was one of the past time activities we did) under mwoutersspain and on my website: www.marilynwouters.com Even one of de videos has the song: Back in Dubai from Sal Mineo, if anybody wants it, I can send it, although not such a good quality. A big hug to you old JA Villagers. marilynwouters@yahoo.com
We lived in JAV 1988 untill 1992 in villa nr 2 and had a lovely time. We remember a lot from that time al good memories. The kids went to JA Primary school and we had lovely swims in the swimmingpool. Sometimes we mis those things.
Joke
I arrived in JAV at the age of 5 in 1978. My dad worked for MJAC and later also became the Village maintenance Manager based in the maintenance buildings just behind choitrams. I went through all the classes of JA primary school starting with Mrs Wakeman at 5years and ending with Mr Peter Wakeman before I was shipped off to boarding school in the UK. We finally left the village in 1990 when my dad suddenly passed away. I later came back to work in dubai and met my husband there - great, fond memories! There was something very special about the village and the people who lived and worked there.
Does any one remember me? i went to Jebel ali village school,lived at villa number 58,my name is saad rashid(pakistani) lived there from 1988-1996 and yeah there was a nieghbour we had (linda was her daughters name i guess)
I think we were one of the first residents 0f JAV. My husband worked for MJAC originally and then PAJA running the club the seamans centre and the bachelors mess. My three children grew up there all going to Jebel Ali school until they went to board in UK. We lived at villa 102 and stayed for 17 years. It was wonderful to watch the village develop from a building site into a community that was green and colourful (the gardens) and is sad to think of them being bulldozed. I have never returned but my three children are frequent visitors and have very fond memories of the place.
Hi all, My name is Brian Ridley and I lived in jebal ali early 1980's 83 I think. I was seven at the time I have only small memories of the place. But there were good ones. I have two older sisters and we all loved it. I went to the school with one of my sister but my older sister had to go private with just two other pupils. I wish I could remember any names of friends apart from to brothers simon and graham head. My dad worked for Balfor Beatties as a forman while my mam had a great life. Tennis swimming exe. It was a great place and my short time there will always be close to my heart.
Hi all those lived in JAV. I can feel your memories. Because two months before i was there. I entered each and every villa. I took photos of almost all villas. I feel sad with that beutifull place. Now they are going to refurbish all the villas. Today only i am seeing this blog. I read the comments from all of you. I know that how you like this place.....my name is Binoi (binoipvarkey@gmail.com)
Two months back I visited there for taking pictures for each villa...nice experience. Feels a lot of memories still there.....on the way of refurbishment.....
I lived in Jebel Ali village,no. 257 back in 1977, although as I remember, it was known as Mina Jebel Ali then. I went to school there before being sent back to uk to boarding school. Always planned to go back for a visit but just never got around to it. Less reason to now.
Hello everyone,
My name is Sean n I live in n around the old Jebel Ali Village.
The jebel Ali village redevelopment has been going on in full swing. 90 percent of the houses have been completed with a 60-70 percent occupied already.
The rents of course for the same units have increased a great deal and it is at par with the welt built Garden view villas.
The village life does not exist here anymore. Everything has been commercialized.
There is a huge mall near by, a church and a Sikh Mandir or temple has been built on the hill top.
Jebel Ali club is still functional. The streets are no longer the same. All trees and greenery had been cleared for new developments in 2008. Unfortunately the development never happened due to the economic crisis.
Eventhough they have refurbished the houses, it's going to take a while for the village to get back to its old shape.
I lived at 103 Mina Jebel Ali when they were first built. I remember arriving and getting to choose all the furnishings etc with my Mum. My dad worked for Stevin/ Uk building the port. I loved that house. I remember playing amongst all the building works. I attended the. Primary school once it was built. Would love to see some later photographs of the property as we were the first to live there.
Hi, my name is Maarten Boer and I lived in JAV village no. 20 during 1977 - 1981 and I have so many good memories from that time. My father was working there for Gulf Cobla. The Dutch children had to participate English class during wintertime, so I also rememeber mr. wakeman and mr. Rhodes and had a lot of english friends there. I received a Message in 2007 about Jebel Ali Village that iT had to be removed because of the construction of the Palm Island. I decided that this was the time to pay a last visit to JAV. Real scary what happend to Dubai and had to look very hard to find some reminders from that time, but at the same time very impressive. Stumbled upon some old friends who still lived there and had a great time. One of them was actually living in JAV so this was very special. Visited the school and the swimmingpool and shedded Some tears. After all this time it felt like 'coming home'.
My friend also had to move and leave JAV behind. Recently plans have changed so that JAV continues to exist for the time being. Im planning a new trip next winter to visit Dubai again. maartenboer@icloud.com
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