So far, when you hear the word Dubai, what comes to mind? It is a city filled with luxury and opulence, stunning Skyscrapers, and every lavish thing you can think of. But how much do you know about Dubai’s history?
Did you know that this city full of extravagance was once a tiny fishing village? How this small fishing village became a global metropolis is a story that will leave you impressed.
So you can plan your Dubai Holidays whether you are planning your trip in October or you can explore Dubai in November as well.
History Of Dubai
It started in 1833 when some 800 people started a settlement near the harbour made by the Creek flowing through the city. These 800 people were actually the members of the Bani Yas Tribe who were so drawn towards the harbour that they planned to settle there.
Sometime later, Arabian Nomads, called Bedouins, also joined them and settled there, and they turned the place into a fishing village.
The area’s major revenue source was oil exploration and trading, and in 1969, Dubai’s economy started to flourish as a lot of revenue was generated from oil exploration and trade.
One could see the major development in infrastructure as schools, hospitals, and large buildings were being constructed, which was a turning point in Dubai’s history.
Dubai Then And Now
Dubai has seen incredible growth and has evolved from a tiny fishing village to a Global Metropolis.
1. Dubai Airport
Dubai International Airport is an essential part of Dubai. It has been a part of this city for six decades now and is the busiest airport in the world.
In the 1950s, Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum realised that Dubai had the potential to be a major aviation hub, thus, the planning and design of the airport began in the year 1960.
The construction began in Phases, and now the airport is one of the finest in the world.
2. Downtown Dubai
Downtown Dubai, which has some of the major attractions in the world, including Burj Khalifa, Dubai Fountain, and the Dubai Mall, was once a barren land.
It is said that in 2006, almost a quarter of all the cranes in the world were busy in Dubai, constructing some of the major landmarks in Dubai.
Currently, Downtown Dubai not only has some of the iconic architecture but also lodging options and top-notch restaurants.
4. Dubai World Trade Center
Another important part of Dubai’s history is the World Trade Center in Dubai. Inspired by the trade centres being built in New York and other parts of the world, the Dubai Trade Center was the largest building in the history of the United Arab Emirates.
Sheikh Rashid got the idea of building the World Trade Center in Dubai in 1975, and the construction was completed in 1979, taking a total of 4 years to complete.
The trade centre was built to host large-scale exhibitions and was used as a convention centre.
5. Dhow Cruise Dubai
Dhow Cruise in Dubai, which is quite popular among tourists, is a luxury cruise offering delicious food and unlimited entertainment. You can take the dinner or sunset cruise; both are equally beautiful.
What today looks like a luxury cruise was once just a regular small boat used by the early settlers for fishing.
6. Dubai Marina
Dubai Marina is a man-made waterfront and is said to be the largest man-made waterfront and an important part of Dubai’s history.
The construction of the Dubai Marina started in the year 2007, but it was stopped due to some ongoing crisis at that time. It later continued and shaped Dubai into what it looks like today.
You can enjoy the Dhow Cruise at the Dubai Marina and make the most of your trip.
7. Dubai Creek
Dubai Creek is where Dubai’s history began, as the first settlers were drawn towards the Harbour and settled there.
Over time, there was development in infrastructure, which made the Dubai Creek modified and became the man-made water stretch built solely to provide comfort to people who travelled through the vessel.
Dubai Marina and Dubai Creek are the two places where you can enjoy the Dhow Cruise.
8. Deira Clock Tower
The story of the Deira Clock Tower is an interesting one, as the clock was presented as a gift to Sheikh Bin Rashid Al Maktoum by Sheikh Ahmed of Qatar, who was his son-in-law.
Shiekh Bin Rashid Al Maktoum didn’t know what to do with that, but since it was a gift, it had to be used somewhere. He decided to install the clock on the Deira Clock Tower, which is now a historic landmark.
The clock has been installed on the entrance gate of Maktoum Bridge, which plays a major role in connecting Bur Dubai and Deira, which the Creek has separated.
