Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, Iconic UAE architecture photos, Baniyas Rd leisure building by GAJ

Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club

Iconic Architecture Development in UAE design by Godwin Austen Johnson Architects

Post updated 23 May 2024

New photos of this building added on 2nd of March 2019 visit:

photograph © Adrian Welch

12 Mar 2018

Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club Building

Design: Godwin Austen Johnson Architects (GAJ)

Location: Baniyas Road, Dubai, UAE

photo © Adrian Welch

Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club in UAE

Photos by Lester Ali

The Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, is without doubt one of Dubai’s original iconic landmarks, so much so it has been emblemised on the 20 Dirham note. Standing proudly on the Creek it is one of the first buildings to greet you as you drive away from the airport.

It was designed to reflect reflect a modern interpretation of a traditional dhow in full sail capturing the essence of Dubai’s seafaring traditions and the majesty and simplicity of the lateen-rigged dhows as they sailed up and down the coastline of Dubai.

Managing Partner, Brian Johnson reminisces fondly of being given the opportunity to design the prestigious clubhouse.

“I knew from my experience of working with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum on the design of the Emirates Golf Clubhouse three or four years earlier that he would prefer an architectural style that would reflect Dubai so after visiting the site, which was adjacent to the Creek, I decided to base the design on the shape of the lateen sail of the traditional racing dhows that were such a thrill to watch.

The decision to adopt the lateen rig shape did pose some problems though.

“My first sketches all seemed to have more than a passing resemblance to the Sydney Opera House which has been described as being based upon the shape of a sail. I got round this by taking account of the fact that every surface of the Opera House is curved so I decided to make every surface of the new building flat, which in fact it is.”

The next problem was that I wanted the building to look like a lateen sail from every direction but no matter how many ways I drew it or how many sketch models I made I just couldn’t come up with something that worked until I came up with the idea of having multiple sails that would achieve the what I was trying to do.”

Sheikh Mohammed clearly loved the design and Brian was delighted to have won the architecture competition.

Following the successful completion of the Dubai Creek Golf Clubhouse, GAJ were subsequently appointed to design the Yacht Club and associated boardwalk area.