Some 800 members of the Bani Yas tribe, led by the Maktoum Family, settled at the mouth of the creek in 1833. The creek was a natural harbour and Dubai soon became a center for the fishing, pearling and sea trade.
By the turn of the 20th century Dubai was a successful port. The souk (Arabic for market) on the Deira side of the creek was the largest on the coast with 350 shops and a steady throng of visitors and businessmen. By the 1930s Dubai's population was nearly 20,000, a quarter of whom were expatriates.
In the 1950s the creek began to silt, a result perhaps of the increasing number of ships that used it. The late Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, decided to have the waterway dredged. It was an ambitious, costly, and visionary project. The move resulted in increased volumes of cargo handling in Dubai. Ultimately it strengthened Dubai's position as a major trading and re-export hub.
When oil was discovered in 1966, Sheikh Rashid utilized the oil revenues to spur infrastructure development in Dubai. Schools, hospitals, roads, a modern telecommunications network … the pace of development was frenetic. A new port and terminal building were built at Dubai International Airport. A runway extension that could accommodate any type of aircraft was implemented. The largest man-made harbor in the world was constructed at Jebel Ali, and a free zone was created around the port.Dubai'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 and tourism hub for a region that stretches from Egypt to the Indian sub-continent and from South Africa to what are now called the CIS countries.
Since the 1960s, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, then ruler of Abu Dhabi, and Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum had dreamed of creating a federation of the Emirates in the region. Their dreams were realized in 1971 when Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Fujairah and (in 1972) Ras Al Khaimah, joined to create the United Arab Emirates.
Under the late Sheikh Zayed, the first President of UAE, the UAE has developed into one of the richest countries in the world with a per capita GDP in excess of US$17,000 per annum.
In the 1980s and early 1990s, Dubai took a strategic decision to emerge as a major international-quality tourism destination. Investments in tourism infrastructure have paid off handsomely over the years.
Dubai is now a city that boasts unmatchable hotels, remarkable architecture and world-class entertainment and sporting events. The beautiful Burj Al Arab hotel presiding over the coastline of Jumeira beach is the world's only hotel with a seven star rating. The Emirates Towers are one of the many structures that remind us of the commercial confidence in a city that expands at a remarkable rate. Standing 350 meters high, the office tower is the tallest building in the Middle East and Europe.
Dubai also hosts major international sporting events. The Dubai Desert Classic is a major stop on the Professional Golf Association tour. The Dubai Open, an ATP tennis tournament, and the Dubai World Cup, the world's richest horse race, draw thousands every year.Dubai’s key attraction is that it brings together the comforts of the western world with the adventure of Arabia.One of the world’s leading inter-continental transit centres, Dubai is easily ,accessible.More than 135 airlines operate through the Dubai
International Airport linking the emirate to 210 destinations worldwide with direct connections to the main cities worldwide. Dubai airport is modern and efficient; customs and immigration procedures are simple.Dubai offers a wide choice of luxury modern accommodation in the cityon the beach or in the mountains. All of Dubai’s hotels are well equipped with modern facilities. They all offer excellent conference and meeting facilities, state-of-the-art telecommunications, fully equipped health clubs and facilities for a wide range of sports. Cuisine from around the world can be sampled at Dubai’s restaurants.Unlike many newly emerging destinations, Dubai offers incentive travel organisers a choice of internationally experienced, professional destination management companies and inbound tour operators. They employ multi-lingual guides and well-qualified drivers and have modern air-conditioned coaches for airport transfers and excursion tours
A variety of standard or tailor-made tours are available, lasting from one or two hours to several days. There are city tours (general, shopping, heritage etc.), excursions to the desert, through the wadis (dried up river beds), to the starkly beautiful Hajar mountains and to the sandy beaches of the East Coast on the waters of the Indian Ocean. There are helicopter, boat and dhow tours also on offer; special interest tours include fishing, golf, archaeology and bird watching.The highlight of any holiday in Dubai is the adventure of tackling the Arabian desert. Safaris, dune and wadi driving are popular; and sand skiing from the high dunes is the latest desert sport. A moonlit Arabian barbecue in the desert, complete with traditional entertainment and belly dancer makes for many memories, while the high-speed and boisterous camel races must not be missed.Those looking for a relaxed holiday will enjoy swimming and soaking in the sun by the poolside or on Dubai’s miles of clean, uncrowded sandy beaches.The energetic visitor will discover a choice of superb watersports - sailing, fishing, windsurfing, water-skiing, scuba diving and snorkeling. On land, visitors can play golf on championship grass golf courses designed by famous architects and international golf stars.
Dubai’s key attraction is that it brings together the comforts of the western world with the adventure of Arabia
One of the world’s leading inter-continental transit centres, Dubai is easily accessible. More than 135 airlines operate through the Dubai International Airport linking the emirate to 210 destinations worldwide with direct connections to the main cities worldwide. Dubai airport is modern and efficient; customs and immigration procedures are simple.
Dubai offers a wide choice of luxury modern accommodation in the city, on the beach or in the mountains. All of Dubai’s hotels are well equipped with modern facilities. They all offer excellent conference and meeting facilities, state-of-the-art telecommunications, fully equipped health clubs and facilities for a wide range of sports. Cuisine from around the world can be sampled at Dubai’s restaurants.Unlike many newly emerging destinations, Dubai offers incentive travel organisers a choice of internationally experienced, professional destination management companies and inbound tour operators. They employ multi-lingual guides and well-qualified drivers and have modern air-conditioned coaches for airport transfers and excursion tours.
A variety of standard or tailor-made tours are available, lasting from one or two hours to several days. There are city tours (general, shopping, heritage etc.), excursions to the desert, through the wadis (dried up river beds), to the starkly beautiful Hajar mountains and to the sandy beaches of the East Coast on the waters of the Indian Ocean. There are helicopter, boat and dhow tours also on offer; special interest tours include fishing, golf, archaeology and bird watching.The highlight of any holiday in Dubai is the adventure of tackling the Arabian desert. Safaris, dune and wadi driving are popular; and sand skiing from the high dunes is the latest desert sport. A moonlit Arabian barbecue in the desert, complete with traditional entertainment and belly dancer makes for many memories, while the high-speed and boisterous camel races must not be missed.Those looking for a relaxed holiday will enjoy swimming and soaking in the sun by the poolside or on Dubai’s miles of clean, uncrowded sandy beaches.The energetic visitor will discover a choice of superb watersports - sailing, fishing, windsurfing, water-skiing, scuba diving and snorkeling. On land, visitors can play golf on championship grass golf courses designed by famous architects and international golf stars.
For the sporting spectator, a full calendar of top class international events - golf, horse racing, rallying, powerboat racing, rugby and snooker - makes Dubai the sports capital of the Middle East.One of the greatest attractions of Dubai is shopping. The city’s tax-free status means bargains galore. A choice of modern air-conditioned malls offer attractive prices on the widest possible range of international brand names in electronics, hi-fi, cameras, watches, textiles, perfumes, cosmetics and much more.The ancient “souks” or markets offer a romantic setting for the purchase of spices, antiques, rugs, and silverware.The city is also one of the world’s great gold trading centres and streets of shops sell a dazzling array of modern machine-crafted and exquisite hand-made ornaments to suit every taste.
Dubai’s award-winning duty free complex situated inside the arrivals and departure lounge of Dubai International Airport offers more bargains and more variety.Dubai city and the surrounding desert also offer photographic opportunities galore - elegant mosques, sumptuous palaces, majestic camels, ancient windtowers, dusty villages and dramatic sunsets.A modern city with timeless tradition, Dubai offers today’s traveler the incentive of a lifetime.