Dubai’s history is older than previously thought, yet it remains present and omnipresent. Where once there was nothing but sand and desert, skyscrapers now soar into the sky. In a relatively short time, Dubai has transformed from a tranquil fishing village into a vibrant metropolis. Yet the small emirate remains manageable in size. With an area of about 4,000 square kilometers, Dubai is about 4.5 times the size of Berlin.
How did Dubai come to be?
Anyone looking at the modern metropolis today would find it hard to believe that Dubai’s history dates back to pre-Christian times. Archaeological excavations provide the evidence: the area that is now Dubai was already inhabited as early as the fourth millennium B.C. For many centuries, the territory remained relatively insignificant and played no notable role in world history.
This changed in the 17th century. The Portuguese dropped anchor, and important trade routes to India were established. A century later, the region was shaken by political events whose effects are still evident today. At the end of the 18th century, the Bani Yas tribe on the Persian Gulf assumed political leadership. Abu Dhabi was considered the center of power. The area around Dubai was part of the emirate at that time. Sheikh Maktoum Bin Buti Al Bu Falasah declared Dubai’s independence in 1833. To this day, the Al Maktoum dynasty has remained the ruling family of the Emirate of Dubai.
Dubai Then and Now – The British Influence
In the 18th and 19th centuries, Dubai’s history was shaped by the “Empire.” As the leading colonial power, the British strengthened their presence on the Arabian Peninsula. To protect their trade routes, they entered into treaties with the sheikhdoms in the coastal regions. The emirates included in these treaties were known as the Trucial States.
The locals made their living from fishing and selling the produce of the date palms growing in the oases. Around 1870, the pearl fishing industry dominated Dubai’s economy, and the city became the most important port on the Gulf coast. In 1904, the area was declared a free port. Persian merchants had settled there and founded the Bastakiya district.
When was Dubai built?
Construction activity in Dubai gained momentum as the city developed into a leading trading hub. Around 1920, the first drilling concessions were awarded. The pearl trade gradually lost its importance. Instead, the Trucial States became the largest transshipment hub for goods from India and Persia. The oil trade dominated economic activity in the second half of the 20th century.
In 1962, Abu Dhabi exported its first crude oil abroad. Dubai followed suit seven years later. When the United Kingdom announced its withdrawal from the Gulf region, history took a decisive turn. Dubai and Abu Dhabi initiated the merger of six emirates into the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This was formally sealed by treaty on December 2, 1971.
Dubai’s economic growth prompted Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, then ruler of the emirate, to draw up a master plan that called for a major expansion of the city. This paved the way for the construction of numerous new residential and industrial districts. The infrastructure was also extensively expanded with the construction of roads, tunnels, and bridges.
Dubai 40 Years Ago
Unlike the other emirates of the UAE, Dubai has not remained a leading oil-producing region. Anyone who compares Dubai today with Dubai in the past will quickly realize that its priorities have shifted. Around 1990, the focus shifted to making the city a hub for trade, transportation, construction, and finance. Tourism also began to gain in importance. Business and entertainment centers were built.
The following timeline illustrates Dubai’s development over the past few decades:
- 1903 – British steamships begin calling at Dubai.
- 1907 – 335 pearl-diving boats are anchored in Dubai.
- 1917 – The pearl industry is booming. One gram of pearls is worth 320 grams of gold.
- 1949 – The last pearl-diving expedition sets out from Dubai.
- 1958 – Sheikh Rashid bin Said Al Maktoum comes to power.
- 1959 – The opening of Dubai Airport sparks a boom in tourism.
- 1966 – Oil is discovered off the coast of Dubai.
- 1971 – Dubai gains independence, and the United Arab Emirates is founded.
- 1973 – The dirham of the United Arab Emirates is adopted as the currency.
- 1985 – Emirates Airlines is founded.
- 1989 – Dubai hosts its first golf tournament, the Dubai Desert Classic.
- 2001 – Construction began on the famous Palm Jumeirah.
- 2004 – The cornerstone for the Burj Khalifa is laid.
- 2006 – Change in leadership: Sheikh Muhammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum becomes ruler of Dubai and Prime Minister of the UAE.
- 2009 – A milestone for infrastructure with the opening of the Dubai Metro.
- 2010 – The Burj Khalifa opened as the world’s tallest building.
Dubai 20 Years Ago and Today
The global financial crisis of 2008–09 did not spare Dubai. There was virtually no demand for the luxury real estate that had been built. Construction on various large-scale projects, such as “Veneto,” “The Universe,” and “Deira Palm,” came to a standstill for a time. Dubai’s hosting of the Expo 2020 World’s Fair gave new momentum to the real estate market and tourism. As early as 2017, Dubai set a visitor record with approximately 16 million tourists annually.
The way Dubai looks today compared to 20 years ago is the result of ambitious construction projects and the development of tourism in the emirate. Impressive examples of this era include the construction of the Burj Al Arab in 1999 and the completion in 2010 of the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building.
Sheikh Zayed Road runs between Jebel Ali and its industrial zones and the historic heart of Dubai. Along Dubai’s main thoroughfare stand the skyscrapers of international banks and financial services firms. The Mall of the Emirates is modeled after a palace and is considered the world’s largest shopping mall.
Anyone who compares Dubai 20 years ago with Dubai today will not only notice many architectural changes in the cityscape but also sense a new way of life. Under Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai is setting a course for its future as a metropolis of luxury and high-tech.
Dubai’s path toward becoming a smart city involves digitalization across many areas of architecture and infrastructure. Driverless and climate-neutral vehicles, police robots, and taxi drones are all testament to this goal. Anyone who finds themselves longing for the past—or simply wants to learn more about the history of the city and the Emirates—is guaranteed to find what they’re looking for at the Dubai Museum in the Bur Dubai neighborhood.
Photo credit: Depositphotos.com – erandalx (Eranda Ekanayake)
