About Dubai

History

Despite evidence of human settlements in the region dating back several thousand years, the United Arab Emirates, and specifically Dubai, has a rather short history.

In 1833, some 800 members of the Bani Yas tribe, led by the Maktoum family, left neighbouring Abu Dhabi and settled alongside Dubai Creek, claiming the area as their own. The Creek was a natural harbour and as a result the Maktoums soon turned the area into an established centre for fishing and pearling, and sea trade.

Unfortunately, the early nineteenth century was marked by tribal feuds and the threat of piracy across the region. After a series of bloody maritime skirmishes, warring Sheikhs signed an 1853 treaty with the United Kingdom, agreeing to a "perpetual maritime truce", and forming the Trucial Sheikhdoms. The treaty was further strengthened in 1892 whereby the British promised to protect the ‘Trucial Coast' from all aggression by sea and to help in case of land attack.

The British maintained a permanent base in the area for the next 70 years, fostering stability and assisting the Trucial Sheikhs with the formation of the Trucial States Council. By 1968, two years after the discovery of oil in the region, the UK announced its decision to withdraw from the Trucial States. Finally, in 1971, the UK ended the treaty relationships with the Trucial Sheikhdoms, and on December 2nd 1971, the United Arab Emirates was born. The UAE originally comprised six sheikhdoms or emirates - Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah - with the seventh and final sheikhdom, Ras Al Khaimah, joining in early 1972.

Throughout the late 1960s and 1970s, a steady influx of oil revenue enabled an ambitious programme of infrastructural development. The late H.H. Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai from 1958-1990, implemented a series of initiatives aimed at turning the small trading post into a world-class city. The pace of development was fast, with schools, hospitals, roads and a modern telecommunications network built in record time. Dubai International Airport was expanded and a runway extension which could accommodate any type of aircraft was built. The largest manmade harbour in the world was constructed at Jebel Ali Port, which was also designated a free zone in order to facilitate trade.

Sheikh Rashid's formula for development was becoming evident to everyone - visionary leadership, high-quality infrastructure, an expatriate-friendly environment, zero tax on personal and corporate income and low import duties. The result was that Dubai quickly became a business hub for a region which comprises Africa, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

In the 1980s and early 1990s, Dubai made a strategic decision. Avoiding over-reliance on diminishing oil fields, the emirate began to diversify heavily into tourism. Numerous luxury hotels and leisure developments have paid huge dividends for Dubai, attracting millions of visitors every year, and paving the way for the world-renowned city we see today.

Dubai today

Perfectly situated at the trading crossroads of East and West, Dubai has fully established itself as a world-class destination for business and leisure. The emirate's breathtaking pace of development has promoted an almost insatiable demand for commercial and residential property, prompting a change in the law to allow foreign-nationals to own property. As a result, Dubai is home to some of the world's most ambitious building projects. Three Palm islands, The World, Dubai Waterfront and Burj Dubai - the world's tallest building - are just some of the many major developments that are currently under construction.

This spectacular expansion is just one of the factors that make Dubai a uniquely exciting and attractive place to invest, live and work. It boasts an idyllic location alongside the clear blue waters of the Arabian Gulf, uninterrupted sunshine, a truly cosmopolitan atmosphere, plus excellent education and healthcare facilities. Tourists and residents alike can take advantage of the world's most luxurious hotels, spectacular shopping malls, countless gourmet restaurants, dazzling nightlife and a year-round calendar of top class sport, entertainment and cultural events.

Dubai is also politically and economically stable, and is extremely tolerant of western cultures and practices. Whilst Islam is the official religion, the UAE recognises the right to worship of other faiths, and there are many churches and other religious assembly points across the city. Pork and alcohol - both haram (forbidden) in Islam, are on sale across the emirate, although with some degree of restriction. Women's rights are largely equal to those of men, and females are not expected to cover up - in fact bikini-clad women are a regular sight on Dubai beaches. However, cultural sensibilities do prevail and hence overly revealing clothes are frowned upon.