Despite the fact that the history of Dubai is more than 5 thousand years old, but over the past half century, from a poor settlement, it has turned into an ultramodern metropolis. Those who think that the once tiny fishing village achieved its financial health thanks to the discovered oil are deeply mistaken. If black gold became a good impetus for the start of development, the secrets of such a rapid economic miracle lie in something completely different.
1. History of Dubai
Old map of Dubai 1822
As a settlement, Dubai began its existence in 1833.
Five thousand years have passed since the time when the first tribes settled on the territory of modern Dubai, but only the last decades have exalted it to unprecedented heights. Even at the beginning of the last century, it was a small village, whose inhabitants hunted for pearls and somehow made ends meet.
In such conditions the people lived in Dubai until the middle of the last century.
After Japan invented a method of artificially growing pearls, this source of livelihood disappeared. And then Sheikh Said (1878-1958) made the decision to create a port, which became that saving straw that led to an unprecedented economic growth, which helped turn this region into one of the richest sheikhs of Treaty Oman. Over time, the port in Dubai became the largest commercial harbor in the Persian Gulf of the Arabian Peninsula.
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One of the market squares in Dubai in the 1950s. and Gold market in 2018
Reference: Trucial Oman - in the XIX-XX centuries. was a union of the sheikhs of the southern coast of the Persian Gulf, which was under the protectorate of Great Britain. He was the forerunner of the UAE unification.
2. New history of Dubai
Dubai boats and cityscape 1960 and 2018
Despite endless confrontation with the neighboring emirate of Abu Dhabi (hostilities lasted from 1947-1979), thanks to wise government and the development of re-exports, Dubai began to rise. But an incredible leap was achieved almost overnight. This happened when, in order to improve the life of the population, collectors began to be built on its territory and oil was discovered.
Oil field in Dubai (photos 1966 and 2018).
The year 1966 can rightfully be considered a new rapid milestone in the history of Dubai. Literally in 7 years of skillful leadership of the government of Sheikh Rashid ibn Said al-Maktoum, not only the mining of black gold started, but also an inflow of investments, labor, and, accordingly, the number of population and money began.
3. Start of progress
Dry dock in Dubai (Dubai drydocks) - only 20 years have passed.
As it turned out, there is not so much oil on the territory of Dubai - only 5% of all reserves of the Emirates and it will not be possible to prosper there for a long time. It was then that the government began to develop parallel paths to generate income.
World Trade Center Free Economic Zone 1986 and 2012 (Dubai, UAE).
To begin with, they created the artificial deep-water harbor of Jebel Ali, which is still considered the largest in the world, and equipped the port of Rashid, which has turned into a huge transport hub. At the same time, the largest dry dock and the World Trade Center of the free economic zone were built. All these components like a magnet attracted a significant flow of foreign investment and made it possible to develop the economy even more.
4. Air transportation
Dubai International Airport in 1971 and one of its terminals in 2019
The government of the emirate did not stop at the creation of the largest sea harbor, an airport was being built in parallel, and already in 1985 the airline Emirates entered the world arena, which still does not give up its positions. The airport itself, located in the Al-Garhud area, deserves the term "mega" for a reason.
Changes in the appearance of Dubai International Airport over the past 50 years.
It was expanded several times, and each terminal was so improved that over time not only a comfortable transit zone was decorated, but also a business center, conference rooms, bars, restaurants, lounges, a five-star hotel, a duty-free shopping center, a health club, a play area for children and even a medical center and prayer rooms. And considering that at the moment the passenger traffic is 88 million people a year, it is easy to imagine how much money goes through the treasury.
5. Tourism and recreation
Clock Tower 1964 and 2015 (Dubai).
Given the location of the emirate, the enterprising government decided to use the sea surface not only for cargo transportation, but also for organizing resorts and developing the tourism business.
If 50-60 years ago it was possible to navigate the sea only by boats, now even by metro.
Beach of the early 90s of the last century and modern recreation areas in Dubai.
Nobody skimped on the creation of high-class resorts, restaurants and entertainment centers, because all this magnificence was designed for wealthy tourists who came for new experiences and relaxation. By the time when the wealthy people rushed to the resorts and shopping so fashionable among the elite, the authorities introduced a ban on drinking alcohol in public places. The law redirected alcohol lovers to restaurants and Duty Free, and from there money flows like a river into the treasury, which allows other projects to be implemented.
Dubai waterfront in the middle of the last century and now.
For example, the 7-star Burj Al-Arab hotel was created in the form of a dhow sail (Arab ship), opened in 1999. Since there is no free territory on the coast, for the sake of the implementation of this project, an artificial island was created in the middle of the waters of the Persian Gulf and connected with a 280-meter bridge for direct communication with the land.
This is how one of the bays of Dubai looked in the 1960s, now even in the water there is a unique 10-star Hydropolis Undersea Resort.
Take a look at the luxurious Hydropolis Undersea Resort with fantastic rooms, restaurants, bars, conference rooms, an art gallery, a plastic surgery clinic and more. Or the construction of a giant amusement park for children and a professional training center for athletes Dubailand, which, when completed, will occupy an area equal to … the Principality of Monaco.
Construction began in December 2005, and this is how it looked already in 2010 (Dubai).
But the most ambitious is the construction of the Burj Khalifa tower, whose height reaches 818 meters and is currently considered the tallest building in the world.
6. Development of sports
In the 50s of the last century, the whole city looked like this, and now only the Meydan Racecourse (Dubai).
Dubai has become an elite sports center in recent years.
By investing in the development of sports, you can also make good money, Dubai is proof of this. The government of the emirate did not skimp, and as a result, it is here that the most expensive races in the world Dubai World Cup with a prize fund of $ 4 million, the Abu Dhabi Formula 1 Grand Prix, the world series of rugby competitions, the international triathlon competition The Sand Pit are held, golf championship, camel racing, falconry and other equally stellar events.
A changeable world dictates its own rules and fashion, so some places on the planet are difficult to recognize after a couple of three decades. Metamorphoses are especially noticeable with the most iconic and popular man-made landmarks. Most of them had a completely ordinary look and did not stand out in any way, but the ambitions of the authorities and the titanic efforts of the population of some cities and even countries transferred their offspring to the category of the best.