Dubai is the second largest as well as the most populated emirate
of the UAE on the Arabian Peninsula. Dating back to 3,000 BC, Dubai’s history
is as interesting and varied as the destination itself. From a small fishing
village, Dubai has come a long way to establish itself as one of the world’s
most prominent business and trade centers. Mentioned below will provide you
with a glimpse of different phases of Dubai’s interesting history, beginning
from its early settlements.
Early Life: From
3rd century AD, Dubai was believed to be a part of pre-Islamic community led by
the Sassanian Empire. Later in the 7th century AD, the Umayyad Caliph Group
occupied the region, and introduced the religion, Islam here. But the
archeological excavations revealed from the Al-Qusais depict the existence of
human settlement in the region as early as 8000 BC. Further, the area has been
found mentioned in the ancient book ‘Mojam Ma Ostojam men Asmae Al belaad wal
Mawadhe’ tracing back to 1095 AD. The first European to settle here was
Portuguese, who were later followed by French, Dutch and eventually British in
the 18th century.
Pearl Trading Centre:
Dubai’s modern history is largely attributed to Al-Falasi clan – a part of the
Ban Yas tribe led by the Makthoum family, who settled down here at the Creek’s
mouth in the early part of the 19th century. This, in turn, marked Dubai’s
prominence as a major fishing and pearling centre in the 19th as well as 20th
centuries. As a result of the thriving pearl industry, the Bedouins upped their
lifestyle and shifted their base from desert to coast. But the peal industry in
Dubai collapsed due to several factors such as Great Depression, First World
War and the invention of cultured pearl.
Local Disputes:
During 1940s, some tensions and wars occurred between Dubai and Abu Dhabi,
which even led the British to create a barrier zone between these two emirates.
Major Trading and
Export hub: The turn of the 20th century saw Dubai as a significant port,
with the souk on the Deira region flourishing with hundreds of shops. However
in 1950s, a slit began to develop in the creek probably due to the large number
of ships here. HH Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Makthoum, the then ruler of Dubai,
resolved this issue through an ambitious, visionary project that eventually
strengthened Dubai’s position as a major port city. Apart from these, he was
also instrumental in the development and implementation of several projects
such as Al Shindagha Tunnel, Dubai World Trade Centre and Dubai Drydocks.
Discovery of Oil:
An important milestone in Dubai’s history was the discovery of oil in 1966 at
Dubai’s Fateh Oil Field. Upon the first export of oil in 1969, the economy of
the emirate began to flourish. From the creation of currency and establishment
of largest harbor to the development of strong infrastructure network, the city
underwent several major transformation with the revenue raked in from the oil
and gas.
Formation of UAE:
When the British left the Arabian Gulf in 1971, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, along with
five other emirates, united to form the United Arab Emirates. As a result of
several negotiations and certain conditions, it was decided that Dubai and Abu
Dhabi will have the major control over the country while having veto power to
decide upon matters of national significance.
The first president
of UAE: Soon after the formation of the UAE, HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al
Nahyan became the president of the UAE, and he held the position till he died
in 2004. Under the leadership of Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al
Makthoum, the UAE emerged into one of the world’s richest countries.
Persian Gulf War:
The 1990’s Persian Gulf War took a toll on Dubai’s economic climate, as the
investors withdrew their huge sum of money from banks in the emirate
speculating dubious situations. But in the mid 1990s, the trade communities
from Kuwait and Bahrain shifted their base to Dubai. Moreover, the tremendous
increase in oil price post the Persian Gulf War helped Dubai to overcome the
unstable economic conditions.
Dubai in 1990s:
In 1990s, Dubai devised and implemented strategic plans to augment its
popularity as an internationally recognized tourist destination. Burj Al Arab,
the world’s only seven-star hotel, was opened in 1999.
Today’s Dubai:
Dubai now proudly stands as a premier business and tourist destination offering
highly sophisticated infrastructure, best in class shopping, dining and leisure
facilities, awe-inspiring skyscrapers including Burj Khalifa – the world’s
tallest building, and most of all, crime-free and expat-friendly environment.
Written by Manoj Tulsani
Manoj Tulsani is co founder of Rayna Group. As one of the
pioneers of in the travel industry, he is widely recognized for his charismatic
personality and leadership qualities.
