Perhaps you’re standing where aviation in Abu Dhabi first took flight. This is the story of Abu Dhabi Airfield. It operated from 1955 to 1969.
Let’s step back in time. Imagine a 3000-foot sand runway. Picture a tiny sandstone terminal. This was Abu Dhabi Airfield in its infancy.
In 1955, this airfield was the only airport in Abu Dhabi. There was no control tower. Air traffic controllers peered through a window. They checked if the runway was clear for landing or takeoff. A small wind turbine stood beside the terminal. It cooled the building’s interior.
Gulf Aviation operated the first flights. Seven-seater De Havilland Doves and larger De Havilland Herons flew from Doha Airport. Abu Dhabi Airfield was a stopover en route to Sharjah. In those early years, there was only one flight weekly in each direction.
Flights happened only during the day. There were no runway lights. Winter rains sometimes shut down the airfield. These problems gave Abu Dhabi Airfield a bad reputation among pilots and passengers.
By 1960, Gulf Aviation expanded its routes. They flew to Bahrain, Kuwait, Dhahran and Muscat. Services to Dubai started the following year. A small parking lot was added in 1963. A terminal extension accommodated more airport services. Several extensions followed in the next two years. A smaller building handled more airport services. The parking lot was extended further.
In 1966, Fokker F27 Friendships replaced the older planes. These aircraft caused a massive boom in air traffic. The airfield quickly became saturated.
By 1967, the local government planned a new, larger airport with British assistance. British Overseas Airways Corporations wanted to fly to Abu Dhabi. A new terminal was built to handle both airlines.
B.O.A.C. began flights from Abu Dhabi to London using Bristol Britannia in early 1968. The new terminal quickly became too small because the London route was so popular.
Construction had already begun on a new airport. It was expected to open in 1970. The new airport opened early in 1969. It was named Abu Dhabi International Airport. Today, we know it as Al Bateen Executive Airport. It became Abu Dhabi’s main airport. All operations moved there on opening day. The old Abu Dhabi Airfield was abandoned.
Today, the original terminal building of Abu Dhabi Airfield remains. It stands preserved in the center of the Abu Dhabi Media Company complex. You can find it off Muroor Road near 17th Street. The next time you pass by, remember the humble beginnings of aviation in Abu Dhabi. Remember those early flights and the little sandstone terminal. This is where it all began.