Top menu

History of Dubai

print button
 

History
Although the early history of the area is not very well documented, archaeological discoveries suggests that, as long as four thousand years ago, small fishing communities lived along the coast of the Arabian Gulf on the site of modern Dubai.

It is also believed that the natural sheltered harbour afforded by the Dubai Creek was a busy port of call on the ancient trade route between Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley.

In recent years, archaeologists have discovered hundreds of artefacts, including pottery, weapons and coinage, that indicate civilised settlements dating back to the third millennium B.C.

Modern Dubai, however, traces its origins to the 1830’s. At that time, the small fishing village on the Shindagha peninsula at the mouth of the Creek was settled by a branch of the Bani Yas tribe, originally from the Liwa oasis to the south, led by the Maktoum family who still rule the emirates today.

By the late 1870’s, Dubai was often referred to as the principal port on the Gulf coast and, by the turn of the century, was reputed to have had the largest souks (commercial quarter) in Arabia.

The pearl industry was the main economic activity of the city’s prosperity for many years, following to the development of the cultured pearl in the 1940’s. But Dubai’s enterprising merchants bounced back, developing a thriving trade in gold and other commodities. Much of this history is carefully preserved in myriad forts, mosques, palaces and other historic monuments, which are on the itineraries of many organized tours.

Oil
Abu Dhabi is one of the largest oil producers in the world. Dubai and the northern emirates, on the other hand, have relatively little oil. Dubai's reserves are only expected to last about another ten years. Figures suggest that Dubai is currently exporting 170,000 bpd, down from a high of around 400,000 in the late 1980s. As a result, Dubai has increased attempts to diversify the economy and encourage private sector activity.


Trade
Dubai has a strong base in trade, especially re-export through its free zones. Much of the UAE manufacturing industry is also located in Dubai, the biggest of all being Dubai Aluminium (Dubal), which accounts for 9% of Dubai's GDP. Also gold is a very important export product for the Dubai economy. The concept of free zones, in which 100% foreign ownership is allowed, has taken off in the UAE. The first was the huge Jebel Ali Free Zone, located just south of Dubai city. Traders from Iran, India, Pakistan and other countries in the region came in large numbers to Dubai.
Dubai's success in creating a non-oil sector, which currently accounts for 93% of the emirate's GDP, has prompted the other emirates to flirt with a similar market-friendly approach. Although it started slowly, Abu Dhabi has been pushing ahead with the privatization of many of its state-run utilities and industries.

Founding of the United Arabic Emirates (U.A.E.)
The royal Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, ruler of Abu Dhabi, and the later Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai, saw the advantage of bringing the individual Emirates together to one nation.
In 1971 the emirates of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al-Qaiwain, Fujeirah and (one year later) Ra's al-Khaimah came together to create the United Arabic Emirates.
The UAE became a proud sovereign state with 83600 km² land en a very small population which grew in 2004 to approximately 4 million people.
Abu Dahbi and Dubai are currently the largest and most important emirates in the federation. Abu Dhabi settles the government and is the largest oil-industrial centre, while Dubai is the commercial centre with trading activities covering the entire world.

Family live
Until today family is the most important thing for the Arabic people. The family is called 'the counter stone of the Arabic society'.

Hospitality
Hospitality and respect are the most important values of the Arabic world. Visitors of Dubai are charmed by the warmth and friendliness of the local inhabitants of Dubai. Visitors of the well known hotels in Dubai are being welcomed with Arabic coffee.

Islam
The timeless values of the Islam are the fundamentals of the culture and way of life from the inhabitants of Dubai.




Newsflash

Your Career starts here