How Dubai Got Rich?

The United Arab Emirates, also popularly known as the UAE, is a federation of 7 different emirates, namely: Abu Dhabi Emirate, Dubai Emirate, Sharjah Emirate, Ajman Emirate, Ras Al Khaimah Emirate, Umm Al Quwain Emirate, and Fujairah Emirate, that came together on December 2, 1971, to be known as the UAE we know today. The infamous city of Dubai lies in the Dubai Emirate of the UAE. It has been said that Dubai has existed since 3000 BC but it emerged as a connecting route for trade only after the 5th century. And by the 7th century, the religion of Islam had spread to the Arabian Peninsula (comprising Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Yemen, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain), influencing the cultural and economic landscape of the region. In the 16th century, Portuguese explorers arrived in the Arabian Gulf, seeking control of maritime trade routes.

Ports along the coast, including what is now Dubai, became important centers for trade. Between the 7th and 16th centuries, Dubai evolved from a trading outpost along the Arabian Gulf coast to a flourishing center of commerce and cultural exchange. This period saw major transformations such as the spread of Islam in the UAE, expansion of maritime trade routes, and interactions with European powers( the British, French and Russians). The United Arab Emirates, being a strategically important location due to its connectivity with various regions like Oman, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia(because of their oil supply), started getting used as a trade route. By the 19th century, the British had established treaties and agreements to protect various emirates(territories) due to their importance as trade routes to the Middle East, Africa, and Central Asia. They were called as “Trucial States."

From fishing to pearl-diving businesses to trading transport and a financial hub, Dubai has evolved to be one of the most developed cities in the world. But this growth wasn’t easy. In the early 20th century, Dubai, like other emirates, faced economic challenges due to the decline in the pearl industry and changing global trade dynamics. The fate of Dubai changed when Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum took over the reins of Dubai in 1958, and then eventually his successors, Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum in 1990 until 2006, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum afterwards. Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum made many developments, like dredging the Dubai Creek to facilitate bigger ships and building airports, infrastructure, ports, and drydocks, to develop the city and make it the Dubai we see today.

Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, the ruler, Sheikh Rashid, focused on modernizing Dubai's infrastructure by constructing roads, schools, hospitals, and government buildings, which also laid the groundwork for urban development in Dubai. In year 1966, oil was discovered in Dubai, which is considered to be a major turning point in Emirate’s economic history as it provided additional resources for development by providing revenues to fund ambitious projects to grow the country without oil independence. By the 1980s, Dubai had become a regional center for finance and trade. One of the largest ports in the Middle East and in the world, Jebel Ali Port, officially inaugurated in 1979, was made a duty-free and tax-free port in 1985, which is seen as the biggest move in Dubai's economic development as it facilitated international trade and positioned the emirate as a major logistics and business hub in the Middle East.

After his death in 1990, his eldest son took over the leadership. In the 1990s and early 2000s, under the reign of Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai embarked on its iconic real estate and tourism development due to the influx of tourists from all across the globe. From all over the world, people started to visit Dubai also due to the creation of Air Emirates, which provided various perks compared to all the other airlines. To provide more facilities to tourists, the tourist and infrastructure economy of Dubai started growing. The most iconic projects we know today, like the Burj Al Arab, the Palm Islands, and the Burj Khalifa were started during that period which later became a symbol for Dubai's ambition and commitment to doing everything in a more bigger and grand way. Dubai is obsessed with everything bigger, trust me! Along with these developments, luxury hotels and entertainment venues, malls, and skyscraping buildings all started developing in Dubai to make it a premier destination for leisure and business for people all around the world.

Dubai, as we see it today, is a testament to the visionary leadership of its incredible leaders, who transformed a place that was seen as a mere desert outpost into one of the world's most luxurious and popular travel destinations in just four decades. With its skyscraping buildings, world-class shopping malls, unparalleled luxury hotels, glamour, and attractions, Dubai has proved to be the crown jewel in the world of opulence, showcasing that with determination and dedication, anything is achievable. Beyond all the glitz and glamour, Dubai is a beacon of what visionary leadership can achieve. This city serves as a powerful reminder that with the right strategies and relentless pursuit, any goal, no matter how bold, big, or small, can be achieved.