The Dubai we see today is built on foundations that are rich in history and tradition.

First Settlement: Archaeological explorations have discovered material that suggests easy fishing settlements were situated along the Gulf Coast from around 7,500 years ago. However, the first major settlement of Dubai did not occur until the 1830s. At that time the small fishing village on the Shindagha Peninsula at the mouth of the Creek was inhabited by a branch of the Bani Yas tribe – originally from the Liwa Oasis to the south – led by the Maktoum family. The Maktoum family still rules Dubai today.

Traditional Lifestyle: Life was harsh for the Bedouins who roamed the hot desert interior as nomads with their camel herds. Similarly, shepherds and goatherds eked a living in the rugged mountains while farmers tended date palms wherever traces of water could be found.
City of Merchants: Through its growing trade activities, Dubai became the principal port of the Gulf Coast by the late 1870s. Traders from Iran, India and elsewhere around the region were attracted to the growing hub of commerce and, by the turn of the century, Dubai was reputed to have the largest souqs in the region. Pearls continued to be a mainstay of the emirate’s prosperity until the 1940s, when the development of Japanese cultured pearls led to a collapse in demand for the natural product. But, by that time, trade in other products – including gold – had grown steadily and Dubai,   widely known as ‘the city of merchants’, was able to overcome the setback.

Discovery of Oil: The search for oil throughout the Middle East intensified after World War II, but it was not until 1966 that Dubai’s reserves were discovered, with the first exports following in 1969. During this time Britain announced its withdrawal from the region – a move that was to have a significant impact on the political geography of the area.

Foundation of the UAE: Their Highnesses Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Ruler of Abu Dhabi, and the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, then Ruler of Dubai, clearly saw the attractions of bringing together the individual emirates of the Gulf Coast into a single nation. In 1971, the emirates of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al-Qaiwain, Fujairah and (one year later) Ra’s al-Khaimah came together to form the federation of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a proud sovereign state of 53,600 square kilometres and a small population which has subsequently grown to some four-million people in 2004. Abu Dhabi and Dubai are the largest and most important emirates in the federation and complement each other. Abu Dhabi is the seat of the federal government and a major oil-industry centre while Dubai is the main commercial centre, with trading and business ties extending beyond the Middle East to all corners of the world.