Bryn Jones – The Third Gulf Multi-National Cookbook – 1984

A lovely and rare piece of UAE memorabilia, this is a 1984 cookbook of recipes provided by local residents and published by Dubai-based What’s On, in partnership with the Parent Teacher Association of the Al Ain English-Speaking School.

Assembled by Bryn Jones, who was a presenter on Dubai Radio’s Morning Show in the 1980s. Local listeners would call in with their recipe ideas, which were then compiled into a book. The first Dubai edition appeared in February 1983; this is the third Gulf edition. Not dated, but assumed to be 1984.

Contains 135 recipes, plus many wonderful advertisements from the period, including for hotels, shops, attractions, restaurants and more.

Published by What’s On Publishing, the forerunner of Motivate, which also produced a popular lifestyle magazine in Dubai at the time. 115 pages, spiral bound, in full colour. In very good condition indeed, no writing inside, and minimal wear externally.

Material from the 1980s in Dubai is increasingly scarce, and a window into a completely different period of the city’s history prior to the rapid development and growth in the 1990s and 2000s onwards.