Timeframe: Crossing the border, 1960s style

It was reported earlier this week that 230,000 trips had been made between Dubai and Oman this past Eid Al Adha, with tourists enjoying holiday breaks across both sides of the border. Dubai Customs said it had 1,400 employees working around the clock during the holiday period to deal with the rush.

In contrast, what you see here is a scene at an Abu Dhabi border 53 years ago, in July 1965: a small building with a traditional barjeel – or wind tower – a lone Land Rover, the Abu Dhabi flag flying overhead and probably only a handful of military members manning the post.

Granted, it wasn't a busy holiday weekend that July, and the exact location remains unclear, but it must have been a desolate posting – though one taken out of a deep sense of duty and pride, as the emirate began to transform and develop. A year later, Sheikh Zayed would become the Ruler of Abu Dhabi.

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Read more:

Fifty years on: How the opening of the bridge to everywhere changed the face of Abu Dhabi

WATCH: How Land Rovers dominated the seven emirates 50 years ago

The dirham in your wallet has something of note to celebrate this weekend

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