Dubai mourns loss of well-loved British expat George Chapman, who spent 73 years in Gulf

As the date for George Chapman's funeral service on November 14 approaches, anticipation grows among those who knew and admired him. Fondly remembered for dedicating seven decades of his life to the Gulf region, the beloved long-time UAE resident left a lasting legacy in Dubai and beyond.

Chapman, who passed away in Dubai on October 29 at the age of 98, was a distinguished figure in the UAE.

He served as the former chairman of Port Rashid and held the position of general manager at Gray Mackenzie, now known as Maritime and Mercantile International. His career achievements were nothing short of outstanding, earning him the prestigious MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) award twice, first in Oman in 1959 and later in Dubai in 1978.

However, Chapman was not only known for his professional accomplishments but also for his vibrant personality, sense of humour, and dedication to his passions. In a statement to Khaleej Times, Vanessa, his eldest daughter, reflected on the broader impact of her father's life, stating: "Our father was a remarkable man who was a great communicator to people, all of which was helped by his tremendous sense of humour. He remained young at heart and even at the age of 70, he completed a bungee jump! We shared a common bond in our love of Land Rovers, homing stray animals, exploring and documenting history, and I will miss the twinkle in his eye and his easy charm.”

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Katherine, his other daughter, said: "My father's passing sees the end of an era for Dubai and almost a century of life for him. Dad was a very kind and generous man and a renowned networker who would go out of his way to help connect people socially and in business. Apart from his busy work life, he helped establish the Dubai English Speaking School (DESS) and the Dubai International Seafarers Centre (DISC)."

'A true Dubai legend'

In memory of Chapman, a service will be held at Christ Church, Jebel Ali, on November 14 at 2.30 pm. A further gathering to celebrate his life will take place from 6pm onwards at the Dubai International Seafarers Centre, an institution he once chaired.

The news of Chapman's passing has left his friends and former colleagues saddened, with many fondly remembering him as an incredible gentleman and a true Dubai legend. Scores took to the popular Facebook group 'Dubai - The Good Old Days', which boasts nearly 24,000 members, to pay their condolences and reminisce about their time spent with him."

Meri Lloyd Miller expressed her heartfelt condolences, saying: "Sad to hear of the death of another Dubai legend! Our heartfelt condolences to George's family." She recalled the time she first met Chapman in 1987 when she opened the George and Dragon pub at the Ambassador Hotel. "He became one of our lunchtime regulars. Such an incredible gentleman with so many interesting stories to tell about his life and times in Dubai. We felt very privileged to be invited by George to join him at his little oasis home some Fridays."

Kamal Khiara, who cherished his friendship with Chapman, last met him in March 2022 and had hoped to see him again during his upcoming trip by the end of this month.

Chapman's former colleague Tim Cassey shared his thoughts, saying: "I had the privilege of working for George for many years. He was a larger-than-life character, and his wit, charm, and enthusiasm truly stood out. A really astute businessman, his stories of his early days in the Emirates and Oman were fascinating."

Cassey added: "Apart from being a director of Inchcape, Gray Mackenzie, and MMI, he was a pioneer for the Emirates."

Paul Davies, another colleague, fondly recalled his time working with George at the Gray Mack building on the Creek when it was new in the mid-'70s.

He wrote: "Although very lowly in the hierarchy, whenever I bumped into George, he always had a kind word and astute comment to make about my beard and dress sense! Those were happy days and will stay with me forever."

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