09 July, 2007

First Mcdonalds?

I am going to use this space for some personal quest I am on.

I was having a trivial discussion with some friends about the opening of the first McDonalds in the UAE. I was arguing that it was in Al Ghurair in the mid 90s but they were saying it was in city centre. We all went online to find some information regarding this issue but could not find anything.

Do any of you remember where the first McDonalds opened in the UAE?

I need to end this feud I have started with my friends :-)
Posted by LocalExpat at 10:43 pm

21 comments:

The Ego said...

T'was in Al Ghurair...before Deira City Centre even opened... as far as I can remember...
I actually remember going to this McDonalds as a kid... hehe...

09 July, 2007 23:07
Anonymous said...

the chain opened in al ghurair centre sometime between '94-95 (summer?)couldn't exactly remember the date.

i can only recall the free burgers and sundaes for the first 100 customers. and of course ..ronald mcdonald in the flesh. plus a glowing face of amazement from kids and kids at heart.

the first branch occupied more than half of the area than what it is today (about 150+ seating capacity or more).

and hardees was the only 'exciting' place for kids that time.

dammit! i just realised i spent my dxb childhood growing up with clowns and burgers!

(sigh) those were the days. modesh save the dxb youth! LOL

10 July, 2007 00:18
Anonymous said...

hi
it was in al ghurair
100% sure

i also think back then city center didn't even exist!
but what i am 100% sure of is that it first opened in al ghurair center, now known as al ghurair city

10 July, 2007 01:06
Lirun said...

all i can say is that if you want a mcmenu that suits middle easterns and satisfies hallal requirements and has been tested for over 13 years then there are some very successful koser ones over here..

10 July, 2007 01:07
marwan said...

Al Ghurair, for sure. My classmates bunked school to check it out.

Sure beat fifteen years of KFC though.

10 July, 2007 01:37
rosh said...

Al Ghurair - think am pretty sure about it? The place was packed for days. Was DCC around then?
Not sure if I prefer McD's to KFC, even today :)

10 July, 2007 04:19
CG said...

Wow, my brain has frozen then. I could have sworn it was 96 crowne plaza. was i in a coma for a few years?

10 July, 2007 12:24
LocalExpat said...

City Centre did not exist back then that is for sure..

well i hope my friends will believe me now ;-) then again, they could be assholes and wanted concrete proof and not just other peoples words :-)

10 July, 2007 14:25
Anonymous said...
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10 July, 2007 15:44
Anonymous said...
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10 July, 2007 15:58
BuJ said...

it was 100% in AL GHURAIR CENTRE.

10 July, 2007 16:35
Brn said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
10 July, 2007 16:55
Anonymous said...

Oink! Oink!

What a boring week...

10 July, 2007 17:19
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
10 July, 2007 17:28
Brn said...

anonymous,

Wow! You mean that eating fast food isn't that healthy? I'm sure that none of us have ever heard that before. Because of course the best medical advice always comes from anonymous blog comments. Clearly I was wrong and your time was well spent. I take it all back. Thank you so much for sharing your unique wisdom.

10 July, 2007 17:45
tobasco said...

On a seperate note I still remember driving up from Abu Dhabi with my family to see city centre. It looked so huge and amazing back then lol, Funny how quick things change.

10 July, 2007 17:57
Anonymous said...
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10 July, 2007 18:13
Anonymous said...

oh stop it, you two...not meaning to digress though I remember the first Mackers in Abu Dhabi and how in the first few weeks, lots of people who went there got mysteriously sick...didn't stop them from going back though, or just at least BK opened up at around 1997

10 July, 2007 20:40
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
11 July, 2007 00:56
Anonymous said...

but now you can tell your friends that the first BK branch opened in Deira City Centre in 1997 during the time's biggest mall opening.

and yeh, FREE COKE REFILLS ALL-YOU-CAN!!

12 July, 2007 00:49
Anonymous said...

Birdie num num

12 July, 2007 20:15

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