How Old Dubai Stayed Cool: Secrets of Traditional Architecture
April 25, 2025
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Picture Dubai. What comes to mind? Gleaming skyscrapers piercing the clouds? Luxurious malls? Maybe even an indoor ski slope? It's easy to forget that beneath the modern marvels lies a history shaped not by steel and glass, but by sun, sand, and sea 
[1]
[3]
[15]. Long before the oil boom transformed its skyline, Dubai was a different place – a coastal settlement where life moved at the rhythm of the tides and seasons 
[13]
[24]
[32]. This article delves into that earlier era, exploring the ingenious traditional Emirati architecture, the clever use of local materials, and the techniques developed to thrive in a demanding climate [1]
[5]
[41]. We'll uncover how people built comfortable, sustainable homes and communities using the resources nature provided, driven by the twin forces of climate adaptation and cultural needs [1]
[2]
[26]
[33].
Building for Survival: Climate and Culture as Architects
Life in pre-oil Dubai meant facing some serious environmental challenges. Imagine relentless heat, suffocating humidity, intense sunshine beating down, and the occasional blinding dust storm rolling in [1][5][33]
[34]. Survival, let alone comfort, demanded clever solutions [5][41]. But it wasn't just the climate shaping the buildings; deep-rooted cultural values played a crucial role too [13][33]. The importance of family privacy, known as satr, was paramount, influencing designs to shield home life from public view 
[4]
[7][2]
[17][24]
[38][26][34]. Hospitality was also key, with dedicated spaces like the majlis needed to welcome guests according to tradition [4]
[36][38][34]. The goal of traditional Emirati architecture, therefore, was twofold: create liveable microclimates offering refuge from the harsh environment and design spaces that supported the community's social and cultural fabric [1][2][26][33][2][5]. These fundamental needs sparked incredible innovation in using local materials and architectural forms [5][41][1][4][17].
The Earth's Gifts: Dubai's Traditional Building Palette
Forget complex supply chains; traditional builders in Dubai looked to their immediate surroundings for materials [1][5]
[39]. The sea, the creek, the desert sands, and the ever-present date palm offered a surprisingly versatile construction kit [1][13]
[9]. This reliance on local resources wasn't just practical; it was inherently sustainable, involving minimal pollution and energy use, often just relying on the sun to dry bricks [9]
[27]. Let's look at the core components of this traditional building palette.
Coral Stone (Bait Morjan / Faroush)
Found along the coast, coral stone (often called faroush) was harvested from sea beds and reefs [13][15][24]
[23][27]. After drying to reduce salt content, it became a favoured material for substantial buildings like mosques, merchant houses, and defensive towers [13]
[19][15][23]. Why coral? It was relatively light yet durable, and its porous nature allowed walls to "breathe," helping with cooling through evaporation [15]
[29][13][5][7]. It also offered good thermal insulation, absorbing daytime heat and releasing it slowly at night [13]. Builders used mortars like Jus Bahar (a lime, sand, and seashell mix) or gypsum-based mortars to bind the stones, sometimes using stronger shell stone from the creek for foundations [13][27][36]
[31].
Gypsum (Juss)
Sourced from the salty marshes (sabkha) near the creek, gypsum was processed into a plaster called juss [13][15][24]. This versatile material served as a bonding agent, a smooth render for walls, and a medium for intricate decorative carvings (naqsh) featuring geometric patterns [13][15]. It was also used to protect roofs, often mixed with clay for tiles, and even formed simple screen windows before glass became common, offering shade while allowing airflow [27].
Mud & Mud Bricks (Adobe / Libn)
Mud was everywhere, easily gathered from the desert or creek beds [1][7][41][23]. It served as a basic mortar and, more importantly, was formed into sun-dried bricks (libn or adobe) [13][41][15][23]. Thick mud brick walls provided excellent thermal insulation, keeping interiors significantly cooler during the scorching days [33]
[40]. Sometimes, timber was added for reinforcement [15]. For extra protection against moisture, especially near the ground, builders often used Sarooj, a special waterproof mortar made from red clay and manure [13].
The Versatile Palm (Arish / Barasti)
The date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) was truly a gift, providing multiple building materials [1][15][40]. Its fronds (sa'af) were expertly woven into mats (da'an) used for walls, partitions, and roofing, especially in simpler Arish or Barasti huts – perfect, breathable shelters for the summer months [1][4][15][24][3][19]. The sturdy trunks (jath') became essential beams and columns [13][9][24]
[25][27]. Even the fibres (leef) were twisted into ropes, and palm wicker (safafah) was woven into various useful items 
[37][25][36].
Essential Timber (Mangrove / Chandal)
While palm wood served many purposes, stronger timber was needed for structural frames, roof supports, doors, and windows [1][13][4][37][27]. Mangrove poles (chandal), often imported from East Africa or India, were highly valued [13][37]. Their typical length (around 13 feet) often dictated the maximum size of rooms [29]. Using imported chandal, especially in prominent features like wind towers, could also be a subtle signifier of the homeowner's wealth [15][19].
Ingenious Designs for Desert Living
Having the right materials was only half the battle; the real genius lay in how they were assembled [13][5][33]. Pre-oil Dubai architecture wasn't just about stacking stones or weaving fronds; it involved clever designs that worked with the climate and culture, not against them [1][17][13][4][2]. Two features, in particular, showcase this ingenuity: the elegant Barjeel wind towers and the private sanctuary of the courtyard house.
The Wind Tower (Barjeel): Natural Air Conditioning
Instantly recognizable, the Barjeel (or wind tower) is a defining feature of traditional Emirati architecture, especially prominent in areas like Al Fahidi [1][7]
[14]
[22]. Believed to have been influenced by Persian badgir designs and appearing around the late 19th or early 20th century, these towers were more than just decorative [1][32]
[10][14]
[35]
[8][16]. Typically square or rectangular, rising distinctively above the roof, a Barjeel has openings on its sides designed to catch cooler breezes blowing higher up [4]
[11][16][4][7][35]. Constructed from coral stone, mudbrick, gypsum, and timber (chandal poles were common), these towers acted like nature's air conditioners [10][14][15][19]
[20][4][7][10][14]
[18]
[21][8].
How does it work? It's quite clever, really. The tower captures wind and funnels it down vertical shafts into the rooms below [4][10][11][20][21][4][7][11]. This incoming cooler air pushes the warmer, stale air inside the house up and out through other openings in the tower, creating a constant, natural ventilation cycle [7][35][4][10][11]. Even without wind, the sun heating the tower can create an upward draft (a solar chimney effect), pulling cooler air from below [4]. Sometimes, damp cloths were hung in the openings to add evaporative cooling [35]. The result? A significant drop in indoor temperature – potentially up to 10°C – making life much more bearable [7][10][14][35][21]. Owning a Barjeel was also a status symbol, showcasing not just wealth but an investment in comfort and clever design [10][19]
[30].
The Courtyard House (Bait): A Private Oasis
Another cornerstone of traditional design was the courtyard house, or bait [1][4][2][17][38][26]. Common across the region, this layout was perfectly suited to Dubai's climate and social norms [1][4][2][17][38][26]. The concept is simple: rooms are arranged around a central, open-air courtyard [4][7][17][38]. From the street, these houses often presented a solid, private face with few windows, focusing life inward [2]
[28]. This inward orientation was vital for maintaining family privacy (satr), a core cultural value [4][7][2][17][24][38][26][34].
The courtyard itself was a multi-tasking marvel. Climatically, it acted as a thermal regulator [4]
[6][33][2][38][26]. Shaded by the surrounding walls for much of the day, it became a reservoir of cooler air, especially overnight [7][2][28]. During the day, this cooler air would be drawn into the adjoining rooms as warmer air rose, promoting natural ventilation [4][2][38][28][29]. Planting trees or adding a small water feature could enhance this cooling effect through shade and evaporation [7][2][38][31]. Socially, the courtyard was the heart of the home – a secure, private space for family activities, meals, and even sleeping during hot nights, shielded from public gaze [2][18][38][26][31][4][7][34]. It also helped facilitate the traditional separation of spaces, like the men's reception area (majlis) and the family quarters (harem) [4][36][38][26].
The Hands That Built Old Dubai: Artisans and Know-How
Who actually built these remarkable structures? Not architects in suits, but highly skilled local craftsmen known as Ustads [10]. These master builders possessed generations of knowledge about local materials, climate patterns, and effective building techniques [10]
[12]. They understood intuitively how to select the best coral stone, mix the right mud mortar, or orient a building to catch the breeze [13][10][12][5]. Their skills covered everything from laying strong foundations, often using shell stone, to erecting sturdy walls and roofs, and constructing complex Barjeels [31][9][27][10][15][29]. Finishing touches, like smooth plastering, decorative naqsh carvings, and crafting wooden elements, were also part of their repertoire [13][7][36][27]. Construction relied on local labor, with skills passed down through apprenticeship, although the influence of migrant craftsmen, particularly from Persia bringing ideas like the Barjeel, was also significant [14][19][8][10][12].
Echoes of the Past: Legacy
The traditional architecture of pre-oil Dubai stands as a testament to human ingenuity and resourcefulness [13][10][12]. It showcases a deep understanding of how to live harmoniously within a challenging environment, using locally sourced materials and passive design strategies long before "sustainability" became a buzzword [9][41][2][12]. These buildings weren't just shelters; they were climate-responsive, culturally sensitive, and built with incredible skill [13][5][2][12]. Thankfully, places like the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood preserve tangible examples of this heritage, allowing us to step back in time and appreciate the foundations – quite literally – upon which modern Dubai was built [19][22][3][14][36]. Understanding this past gives us a richer appreciation of the city's incredible journey. Why not explore Al Fahidi yourself and see this history firsthand?
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