Dubai: As with every society, clubs get their character from the members who make it.
The World Trade Club (WTC) at the Dubai World Trade Centre is no different.
At 25, WTC offers a microscopic view of the city it belongs to, home to a variety of nationalities and members with different backgrounds.
Operating under the World Trade Centre Association, the World Trade Club was officially opened by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum on February 27, 1989, on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Dubai World Trade Centre.
Opening its doors at a time when residents of Dubai had little to choose from, in terms of venues for entertainment and social gathering, WTC, like its host building, was a beacon of light for the emirate’s budding high society.
“There were many different communities living in Dubai in those days and there were a few associations that catered to each community, but there was no particular club that brought people together from across the spectrum and this is what WTC did. It gave people from various backgrounds an opportunity to come together and interact,” said Guy Guillemard, the first General Manager of the club.
Offering panoramic views of the city from the 33rd floor of the landmark World Trade Centre Tower, the WTC is one of Dubai’s most exclusive private clubs, and the first of its kind to open in the emirate.
With a membership list that comprises the who’s who of Dubai’s business, political and social circles, the Club provides an ideal environment for networking, complemented by its luxurious private setting and awe-inspiring vista.
“When the club opened we had a board with membership divided into 50 per cent Emirati and 50 per cent international. We had people like Eisa Saleh Al Gurg, Majid Al Futtaim as well as members of other top Emirati families, such as Al Ghurair, as our members along with the biggest names of the expat business community,” Guillemard added.
Guillemard has fond memories of the time spent at the club, which played host to some of the biggest names in the world, like the Queen Elizabeth of England, former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, former German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt as well as many royal families and others.
Though many new clubs have come up over the last two decades and dozens of skyscrapers have come up to overshadow the DWTC tower, for the 700 odd members of Dubai’s first private club it remains the dearest of all.
“The club formed a major focus of our social activity back then and it still remains the only club I’m associated with. I have been to many places, much more modern and sophisticated but nothing can replace WTC. The building came up right before my eyes and I grew up with the club, made new friends, learnt new things here. Back then I always looked forward to coming to the club and I cherish every moment,” said Deena Motiwala, one of the first members of the club.
A septuagenarian, Motiwala has lived in Dubai for 44 years and has been a member of the club since its inception. She has been instrumental in enrolling female members of the club and starting women-only events.
Among the earliest members of the club who attended the 25-years celebration on Thursday was Mark Harris, son of DWTC tower’s architect John Harris.
Himself an architect, Harris accompanied his father to the site during the construction of the then tallest building in the Middle East and took over the club’s membership from his father.
“My father has been associated with Dubai since 1960, Shaikh Rashid appointed him to do the town planning and build the major infrastructure like Maktoum Hosptial, Rashid Hospital as well the Trade Centre Tower.
“I was a young man back then when the tower was being built and I used to accompany my father during the site visits. Even after the tower was built I used to come every year and visit the club and enjoy the hospitality,” said Harris, who now looks after the consultancy set up by his father in Dubai early 1960s.
Recalling one of the incidents during the construction of the tower he said: “I remember during one of our site visits Shaikh Rashid also came. He had apparently watch the Hollywood movie Towering Inferno and he was very particular about the safety and all the details of the building. I remember he climbed the emergency stairs to ensure safety and his guards were a bit concerned.”
