- Dubai Then & Now: A great Success Transformation story over 40 years
The Pearl of the Gulf has undergone a dramatic transformation since its early days as a small fishing and pearling village. The primary source of income for the local population was fishing, pearling, and trade. Over the past few decades, the city-state has transformed into a modern metropolis and a major global hub for tourism, trade, and finance.
Dubai Then: A Brief History Of Dubai
Way back to the 18th century, where Dubai was established as a small fishing village, the town with 800 members of the Bani Yas tribe was subject to the rule of Sheikh Tahnun bin Shakhbut of Abu Dhabi.. They turned the area into a small center for fishing and pearling. Dubai was at that time populated with a thousand people living in an oval-shaped town surrounded by a mud wall, scattered with goats and camels.
In 1900, Dubai existed a free port with no taxation on imports or exports, and also gave merchants parcels of land and guarantees of protection and tolerance. These policies saw a movement of merchants, grew the importance of the port of Dubai, and helped to accelerate Dubai’s role as an emerging port and trading hub of preference. Iranians settled in Dubai in the 1920s permanently, moving across the Persian Gulf. Dubai was known for its pearl exports until the 1930s. Throughout the 1960s, Dubai was the center of a lively gold trade.
It’s no longer surprising that Dubai isn’t an oil city. After years of exploration following large finds in neighboring Abu Dhabi, oil was eventually discovered in Dubai in 1966, in far smaller quantities.
Between 1968 & 1975, the city’s population grew by over 300%. Dubai was a vibrant trade location and sourced the bulk of its money from the trading of pearls.
Dubai Now: A Global Metroplis
The city grew rapidly in the early 21st century, with a focus on tourism, real estate and investments. Oil accounted for 24% of GDP in 1990, but had reduced to 7% of GDP by 2004.
Today, the big city is home to over 3 million people. Dubai is also a home for many first world top-ranked attractions, starting from the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifah, the world’s second-largest mall, Dubai Mall, The only world’s 7-star hotel, Burj Al-Arab and, The world’s tallest four & five stars, Gevora is the world’s tallest four-star hotel, while JW Marriot Marquis is the world’s tallest five-star hotel. The city has a highly developed infrastructure, with state-of-the-art airports, roads, and public transportation systems.
Sheikh Zayed Road In 1990 Vs Now
Dubai Airport In 1960 Vs Now
Dubai Old Downtown Vs Now
- View of Dubai from the viewing deck of Burj Khalifa.
Dubai Old Marina vs Now
Frequently Asked Questions About History Of Dubai
What is the best tourist attraction in Dubai?
To name a few, there is the Burj Khalifah, The Dubai Mall, Dubai Eye, Blue Waters, Dubai Opera House, Burj AlArab, Dubai Marina & JBR.
Which is the best airport in Dubai?
The Dubai Airport. It was built in 1960.
Who were the native tribe of Dubai?
The Bani Yas are the first tribe in Dubai, they were 800 members.
Does Dubai rely on oil for its economy?
No. Dubai relies on Investments, Real Estate and Trade.
Is it safe to travel to Dubai?
Definitely yes. Dubai is rated as one of the safest top 10 cities globally in more than 100 indicators related to safety and security thanks to strict rules. Many tourists and visitors feel safe during their stay in Dubai.
