Friday, November 23, 2018

History of Dubai


Some 800 members of the Bani Yas tribe, led by the Maktoum Family, settled at the mouth of the creek in 1833. The creek was a natural harbour and Dubai soon became a center for the fishing, pearling and sea trade.

By the turn of the 20th century Dubai was a successful port. The souk (Arabic for market) on the Deira side of the creek was the largest on the coast with 350 shops and a steady throng of visitors and businessmen. By the 1930s Dubai's population was nearly 20,000, a quarter of whom were expatriates.

In the 1950s the creek began to silt, a result perhaps of the increasing number of ships that used it. The late Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, decided to have the waterway dredged. It was an ambitious, costly, and visionary project. The move resulted in increased volumes of cargo handling in Dubai. Ultimately it strengthened Dubai's position as a major trading and re-export hub.

When oil was discovered in 1966, Sheikh Rashid utilized the oil revenues to spur infrastructure development in Dubai. Schools, hospitals, roads, a modern telecommunications network … the pace of development was frenetic. A new port and terminal building were built at Dubai International Airport. A runway extension that could accommodate any type of aircraft was implemented. The largest man-made harbor in the world was constructed at Jebel Ali, and a free zone was created around the port.
Dubai's formula for development was becoming evident to everyone – visionary leadership, high-quality infrastructure, an expatriate-friendly environment, zero tax on personal and corporate income and low import duties. The result was that Dubai quickly became a business and tourism hub for a region that stretches from Egypt to the Indian sub-continent and from South Africa to what are now called the CIS countries.

Since the 1960s, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, then ruler of Abu Dhabi, and Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum had dreamed of creating a federation of the Emirates in the region. Their dreams were realized in 1971 when Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Fujairah and (in 1972) Ras Al Khaimah, joined to create the United Arab Emirates.

Under the late Sheikh Zayed, the first President of UAE, the UAE has developed into one of the richest countries in the world with a per capita GDP in excess of US$17,000 per annum.

In the 1980s and early 1990s, Dubai took a strategic decision to emerge as a major international-quality tourism destination. Investments in tourism infrastructure have paid off handsomely over the years.

Dubai is now a city that boasts unmatchable hotels, remarkable architecture and world-class entertainment and sporting events. The beautiful Burj Al Arab hotel presiding over the coastline of Jumeira beach is the world's only hotel with a seven star rating. The Emirates Towers are one of the many structures that remind us of the commercial confidence in a city that expands at a remarkable rate. Standing 350 meters high, the office tower is the tallest building in the Middle East and Europe.

Dubai also hosts major international sporting events. The Dubai Desert Classic is a major stop on the Professional Golf Association tour. The Dubai Open, an ATP tennis tournament, and the Dubai World Cup, the world's richest horse race, draw thousands every year.



When a new runway was opened in 1965, the first aeroplane to land was a Comet, operated by Middle Eastern Airlines
 Sheraton Dubai Creek Hotel and Towers near Dubai Creek 1978


                          Passengers deplaning in Dubai, 1970s. No joke.

                                Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid at aged fifteen

 Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum at age 10 with his Hunting Coach

 Dubais waterways Dhows pictured on the citys creek  was once the centre of Dubais pearl trade and it divides it into two sections pictured below is a crew taking part in a traditional dhow race


Men manually unload cement at the ‘Cement Wharf’ near what is now Port Rashid. The demand for cement skyrocketed after oil was discovered in 1966, and H.H. Sheikh Rashid made expansion plans for the emirate of Dubai.

                      A Camel caravan ambles through Dubai_c1960's
 A group of Bedouin play music outside a house. Dubai was once a land of Bedouin tribes who made a living by fishing and pearl searching

 A man drives past the still-iconic white stone Jumeirah Mosque, which was completed in 1978

 A man selling dried herbs and lemon pauses to smoke a shisha pipe

 An open market in downtown Dubai_c1960's

 Bur Dubai Creek side in 1960s

 Camels on Al Maktoum Bridge in Dubai c_ 1972

 Cultural landmark Men gather in al-Naif souq, one of the oldest traditional markets in Dubai. It was partially damaged by a fire in 2008, but the wealthy emirate paid to rebuild the souq in 2010_c1960's.

 Desert development The Clocktower round about in the neighbourhood of Deira stands surrounded by sandy, undeveloped lots_c1964

 Dubai in March 1949 for the moment and the arrival of some materials to retailers.

 Dubai was settled by 800 members of the Bani Yas tribe in 1833, who were attracted by the natural harbour that the creek created. This enabled it to become a small centre for pearling and fishing.

Dubai World Trade Centre in 1980s

1 comment:

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