Dubai's first Cinema used a generator to run the projector
Cinema being open air did not require any lighting
Deira Power Station enabled Cinemas to be enclosed
Wattan Cinema in Deira Square 1960s
Dubai's Domestic Power was originally provided by Merchants who imported generators, set up local distribution systems then sold power connections to local Consumers.
Dubai was divided into those who had electrical power and those who did not.
Increasing competition, complexity of distribution and unreliability of Dubai's Power Supply led Sheikh Rashid to establish Dubai Electricity Company, a Public Company, to provide Dubai's Power Supply needs.
Both General Public and Dubai's Merchants were investors.
DEC's Board decided to build a diesel engined Power Station.
Dubai had few facilities in the 1960s. Offloading heavy generators from ships offshore and moving these to Deira Power Station presented a major handling problem.
Solution was solved in a typically Dubai way. Power Station's Buildings and infrastructure were adjacent to Dubai Creek (near where Sheraton on the Creek Hotel is today).
Overseas AST dredged a channel from Dubai Creek to the site enabling barges carrying the generator sets to be brought alongside the site.
Mobile cranes lifted these generator sets from the barges and into position in Deira Power Station.
Deira Power Station by Al Maktoum Street.
Dubai Municipality Offices & Workshops on left. Ⓒ L Hejze
1967: Location junction Al Maktoum Street & Omar Bin Khattab Road.
Top Centre: Old Kuwaiti Embassy. Ⓒ L Hejze
Going On LineDeira Power Station started providing power in July 1961. Initially only Deira was provided with power. Soon DEC had 770 Consumers which rose to 2,500 by mid 1962. 100 connections were being made each week. |
Dubai Municipality Garages (Bottom Left).
Cable & Wireless Communications Tower & Offices (right).
Taken over by Etisalat 1976. Ⓒ L Hejze
Dubai's growth led to increasing power demands.
Deira Power Station did not have sufficient capacity to meet those demands and its location prevented any expansion.
Dubai's first gas turbine generating station was built in Jebel Ali and became Dubai's main source of power supply.
Deira Power Station became redundant less than 30 years after it was built.Deira Power Station was demolished to make way for more prestigious buildings.
This 1967 photo shows Deira Power Station's location.
Dubai's rapid growth in 1970s and 80s meant increasing demand for electrical power.
Deira Power Station relied on Diesel Generators. They were noisy, inefficient and costly to operate.
Gas Turbine Technology was both cheaper and more efficient. DEC built a Gas Turbine Power Station at Jebel Ali that could be easily and economically expanded to meet growing demand.
When Jebel Ali Power Station had sufficient generating capacity to meet all of Dubai's power needs then Deira Power Station was taken off line and dismantled.
Deira Power Station was replaced by Etisalat Building and Russian and Danish Embassies Buildings.
Deira Power Station Demolished