Dubai is known to many as a dazzling metropolis. Its skyline is defined by modern, futuristic architecture. Very few people are familiar with Dubai’s history. In fact, the desert metropolis had rather humble beginnings. We’ll now briefly explain the impressive development Dubai has undergone in recent decades and what has shaped and influenced the city’s past.
The Roots of Dubai
When telling the story of Dubai, we must begin with the Minoan era. Thousands of years ago, the area that is now the city was a vast marshland. This dried up around 3,000 B.C., and the land became habitable. It is believed that nomadic herders were the first settlers in the area that is now the metropolis.
By 2,500 B.C., settlers had planted date palm groves and established agriculture. Archaeologists have helped shed light on the early history of settlement. Fishing settlements along the Gulf coast have been documented for as long as 7,500 years. Where vacationers now sunbathe on Jumeirah Beach, there was a caravanserai in the 5th century, and an important trade route between Oman and present-day Iraq ran through this area.
Early Settlement
The settlement of what is now Dubai began relatively late. Around 1830, the Bani Yas tribe inhabited a small fishing village at the mouth of the Creek. The Maktoum family, which still rules the emirate today, was at the head of the tribe. While the Bedouins moved into the desert with their camel herds, life on the coast centered on fishing.
Pearl diving promised an economic boom. A thriving trade developed, fueled by fishing, pearl diving, livestock farming, and the cultivation of date palms. Around 1900, Dubai had the most souqs in the Gulf region. In the Deira district alone, there were more than 350 of these traditional markets at that time.
Dubai and Its History of Oil
After the end of World War II, the search for oil intensified in the Middle East. Oil reserves were not discovered in Dubai and Abu Dhabi until 1966. It took another three years before oil exports began. This economic success led merchants from Iran and India to settle in Dubai as well. While commercial activity flourished, Dubai was not politically independent but was considered a British protectorate.
Founding of the United Arab Emirates
As oil exports from the Gulf gained in importance, Great Britain announced its withdrawal from the region. At that time, Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum ruled Dubai. He and Sultan Al Nahyan, then ruler of Abu Dhabi, recognized the benefits of uniting the individual emirates in the Gulf region. In 1971, Dubai became part of the United Arab Emirates. The merger of the emirates of Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Umm Al Quwain, Ajman, Fujairah, and Ras Al Khaimah the following year resulted in the creation of a sovereign state.
Dubai and Abu Dhabi play a leading role in the federation. The federal government is based in Abu Dhabi. The emirate is also the center of oil production. Dubai serves as an important commercial hub and coordinates business ties that extend from the Middle East to the rest of the world.
Sheikh Rashid bin Said Al Maktoum is considered a pioneer of modern Dubai. He laid the foundation for the unification of the small fishing villages along Dubai Creek into a modern port city. Under his leadership, projects such as the Port of Jebel Ali, the Dubai Drydocks shipyards, and the construction of the Dubai World Trade Center were carried out.
The rulers of the United Arab Emirates have proven to be ambitious and strong leaders. Over the past 50 years, Dubai has experienced explosive growth. Spectacular buildings, such as the Burj Al Arab and the Burj Khalifa, have been constructed and now dominate the Dubai skyline.
Dubai: A Brief History
To learn about Dubai’s history through key topics, follow our timeline:
100,000 B.C. = Humans first settled in the area that is now Dubai.
2,500 B.C. = Nomads plant the first date palms in Dubai.
500 B.C. = A caravanserai is built in what is now Jumeirah.
Around 700 = The first mention of pearls in Dubai appears in Chinese writings.
1095 = The geographer Abu Abdullah Al Bakri mentions Dubai for the first time as a settlement.
1590 = The quality of the pearls is praised by Gaspero Balbi, a pearl merchant from Venice.
1787 = Al Fahidi Fort is built.
1793 = The Bani Yas tribe establishes a foothold in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
1820 = Great Britain agrees to a ceasefire with Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
1892 = Dubai is declared a British protectorate.
1896 = Construction of Sheikh Said Al Maktoum’s house is completed.
1903 = The first British steamships dock in Dubai.
1907 = There are 335 pearl-diving ships anchored in Dubai.
1917 = The pearl industry reaches its peak. One gram of pearls is equivalent to 320 grams of gold.
1930 = Cultured pearls emerge, and the pearl industry in Dubai begins to decline.
1958 = Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum rules Dubai.
1959 = Opening of Dubai Airport.
1966 = Oil is discovered off the coast of Dubai.
1971 = Dubai gains independence from the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates is founded.
1973 = The dirham becomes the official currency of Dubai.
1985 = The airline Emirates is founded by the rulers of Dubai.
1990 = Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum becomes the new ruler of Dubai.
2001 = Construction begins on the artificial palm-shaped island Palm Jumeirah.
2004 = The cornerstone for the Burj Khalifa is laid.
2006 = Sheikh Muhammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum rules Dubai.
2009 = Opening of the Dubai Metro.
2010 = The Burj Khalifa opens as the world’s tallest building.
Dubai: Experience History Up Close
Anyone interested in the history of Dubai should visit the Etihad Museum while in the city. Eight pavilions tell the story of Dubai and the United Arab Emirates, highlighting the challenges the founding fathers had to face.
The museum is located on Jumeirah Road, right next to Union House, where the Constitution of the United Arab Emirates was signed in 1971. The exhibition is open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Adults pay 25 dirhams for admission. Admission is free for children under five.
