then & now: the alumni series

30 May, 2025

My name is David Bell, and I moved to the UAE in 1982 with my family as a 4-year-old. I attended JESS Jumeirah from 1983 to 1989. In 1996, I left Dubai to attend university but returned in 2013 for work – and I’ve been here ever since!

Back then, JESS was a very small community – it had more of a village feel about it. Teachers knew every parent, and it wasn’t uncommon to see them outside of school as Dubai was a lot smaller back then.

Some of my fondest memories include the Topical Nights, themed events held on the grass in front of the main hall each year where students, parents, and teachers came together in a way that truly captured the spirit of JESS. I also loved sports days, school plays, and the many clubs I was a part of – football, chess, karate, and even the Subbuteo club.

The Headmistress at the time, Rita Lane, was an ever-present figure – always smiling, supportive, and a true pillar of the school.

But getting to school wasn’t always easy! The last 500 metres were always a challenge – there were no roads, and you had to turn off Hadiqa Street onto a sabkha track. When it rained it was a nightmare!

Looking back, JESS gave me the opportunity to explore, to try new things, and build friendships that lasted beyond school – some that carried through to college and even into my career today, where I manage client relationships.

If I could step back in time and be a JESS student again, just for a day, I’d go straight to the shared areas, where the water tanks and sandpits used to be, now it’s where the admin and staffroom block is located.

If I had one piece of advice for JESS students today, it would be to enjoy your time, make good friends, and appreciate your teachers. Your teachers are the ones who set you on your first path in life.

I hope JESS continues to be known for its strong community spirit and the quality of education it delivers – just as it has for the past fifty years.

If I was to describe JESS in one word, it’d be… community.