Longtime Dubai resident keeps harping on about the days when it would take him over five minutes to get to branch of Massimo Dutti

DUBAI, UAE: Friends and colleagues of Clint Brewster yesterday complained that the Dubai resident of nine years is constantly rattling on about how things used to be in the city.

“You know, back in 2006 it would often take me well over five minutes to reach a branch of popular upmarket Spanish clothing chain Massimo Dutti,” the American oil executive was overheard explaining to his sales assistant at Gulf Petroltech, repeating a story he had reportedly already told to more than 60 per cent of the company over the past month.

“I’d have to drive down the road to find one, but not now, nope, there’s one right next door. Forty seconds and I’m there, unless the lift is busy, in which case you’re looking at 50 or 60.”

According to sources, Brewster’s proximity to a Massimo Dutti is one of many examples he draws on each day to highlight Dubai’s dramatic changes since the 44-year-old first arrived in 2005. Several coworkers have stated that on multiple occasions he has lectured them at length on how it was once unheard of to shop in Boots, take a taxi ride across Business Bay Bridge or go to any water park other than Wild Wadi.

“There were just 21 McDonalds restaurants to choose from, can you believe it? 21! Sheesh. And only 14 Burgers Kings. Makes you think,” he commented to a group of colleagues in the office kitchen.

“Man, it was a different time in those days,” he later added wistfully. “I mean, now you’ve got nine or 10 malls to choose from, but back then we had to make do with just four or five.”