I challenge you to go and find a person anywhere in the world with basic access to the internet who has never heard of Dubai. In fact, I would bet a lot of money on this. Finding unicorns seems easier! However, not so long ago, things were different. Hardly anyone knew about this local harbor in the heart of the Persian Gulf. But how exactly did Dubai manage to do that? Join us in this story about Dubai before and after.
Many factors made Dubai one of the highlights of the 21st century. But in order to discover them, we need to first look at Dubai’s brief history. See what events slowly fell into place to create this whole picture. Then, we’ll review its iconic landmarks.
Dubai Then and Now: From a Small Village to a Modern Metropolis
What comes to mind when thinking of Dubai? Most probably skyscrapers, gigantic highways, and other ambitious projects. But for now, let’s paint a different picture of Dubai.
- 1833 Dubai
Close your eyes and think of a small village on the southern coast of the Persian Gulf. Mostly made of fishermen, its residents are less than a thousand. Their lives rely on fishing and trading like their ancestors for thousands of years. And they all share one single knowledge: our lives will probably stay the same for another thousand years. However, a great change is at hand.
Welcome to 1833 Dubai. This year, Sheikh Maktoum, with his 800 members of the Bani Yas Tribe, settled in this village. And ever since, they’ve been the ruling family of Dubai. This is a major event that marks the birth of modern Dubai. And if you’re wondering, no. They didn’t immediately begin constructing Burj Khalifa. But hang in there! We’ll get to that soon.
- Dubai from 1833 to 20th century
After the arrival of the Bani Yas tribe, Dubai’s population doubled by the mid-1800s. By the turn of the 20th century, the pearl industry saw rapid growth. Besides, the free trading policies gradually turned Dubai into a trading hub. These two led to economic prosperity in Dubai and put the city on the map. However, one more event took place that decided the fate of Dubai.
- Dubai in 1960s
We know where there’s oil, there’s money. In 1966, oil was discovered in Dubai. Like many countries in the Middle East, oil provided resources for the city. It helped the city’s future infrastructures to flourish.
- Dubai in 1970s
In 1971, the United Arab Emirates was established. And Dubai became a founding member.
For the rest of the 70s, Dubai’s forward-thinking rulers embarked on a strategic plan. They didn’t want their city to rely only on oil. So, they began diversifying their economy. Their main goals became tourism, real estate, and more investment in trade and finance.
- Modern day Dubai
And as you probably can guess, their plan went great. Focusing on more economic goals other than selling oil gave Dubai potential. A potential that turned into the city we see today. It gave room for mega projects like Burj Khalifa, Palm Jumeirah, and Dubai Marina to change the face of Dubai forever. They made Dubai a global destination for tourists and investors. And turned the city into the 21st-century Dubai that we know of. God knows what other ambitious projects are awaiting the future of this city of gold.
Old vs New Dubai: How Dubai’s Transformation Happened
When comparing Dubai before and after, some main events affected its rapid shift. But there was one crucial aspect that has been with Dubai ever since the beginning. Dubai then and now, had and will have good leadership. Let’s dive a bit deeper to truly understand how Dubai’s transition took place.
We’re living Al Maktoum’s Dream of His City
As we mentioned earlier, Dubai began diversifying its economy after the discovery of oil. This is when visionary leadership plays a huge role. Dubai’s ruler back then, Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, and later his son, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, had an idea. An ambitious dream to make Dubai a modern and wealthy city. Unlike many other countries that rely solely on oil as their source of income, Al Maktoums wanted more. And they knew that Dubai could give them more.
So, they believed in their cities and began their work. From the late 60s until now, they laid grounds for modern infrastructures, awe-inspiring projects, and cutting-edge technology. And through the years, they attracted more and more people worldwide with projects like Burj al Arab. Apart from tourism, business-friendly politics for trading made Dubai a paradise for investors.
Oil Discovery in Dubai
The oil discovery in the 60s gave the city an economic boost. It provided the essential sources to build the modern foundation of Dubai. Projects like the Dubai Airport. However, oil resources in Dubai were limited. That’s why they knew from the beginning they couldn’t rely forever on oil.
The Unique Location of Dubai
Dubai’s unique location has helped the city to grow as well. Being in the south of the Middle East, Dubai benefits from a strategic location. It is close to Asia, East Africa, and Europe’s market. It is a port of export and import for many businesses in nearby countries. Besides, Dubai has well-developed ports like Jebel Ali Port which is the largest man-made harbor worldwide.
Luxurious Tourism and Real Estate
Dubai wants to give away a picture of luxury and world-class modernity. They want every tourist to experience it during their stay here. And they’ve tried their best to make it happen.
Emphasis on tourism and real estate has led to two developments in Dubai: the hospitality sector and tourist attractions.
The hospitality sector, consisting of world-class hotels and residents, is now a major part of Dubai’s shape. Some Iconic landmarks dedicated to this section are Burj al Arab (a seven-star hotel) and Jumeirah’s man-made islands.
Moreover, when it comes to tourist attractions, Dubai has done a remarkable job. The most popular Dubai landmarks are:
- Burj Khalifa: The tallest building in the world, with a height of 830 meters.
- Dubai Mall: The largest mall worldwide, offering a vast range of shopping options.
- Dubai Fountain: The largest of its kind, creating breathtaking scenes of water fountains dancing to music.
- Ski Dubai: An indoor ski field inside the Mall of Emirates.
- Miracle Garden: A natural flower garden that spans over 72,000 square meters.
As you can see, these landmarks have formed the face of modern Dubai. Their primary goal was to attract more tourists and residents. But now they’re part of Dubai’s identity.
Dubai Then and Now: The Iconic Sights of Dubai 50 Years Apart
When we think of Dubai, there are some iconic landmarks that come to mind. They highly affected the way we look at the city now. For instance, it is impossible to think of Dubai’s skyline without picturing Burj Khalifa in the middle. Let’s dive into the history of some of these famous sights. They will help us to better understand how Dubai before and after has shaped.
Burj al Khalifa: History of Its Construction
Take a look at Dubai’s skyline. It’s stunning, isn’t it? Every tower is sleek and delicate. But there’s one special building in the center shining over its neighbors. The tallest building in the world has made itself the symbol of Dubai.
Burj Khalifa Opened in January 2010. Its 828-meter height immediately broke the world record for the tallest structure ever built. The construction took about six years to complete. Over 330,000 cubic meters of concrete and 55,000 tons of steel rebar were used to make Khalifa.
How Burj al-Arab Was Built?
The construction of Burj al-Arab Began in 1993. It took five years to complete the project. It took two years to build the man-made island that the tower is on. Eventually, the hotel was opened in 1999.
This tower is one of Dubai’s most important structures for two reasons. First, the memorable design of this 321-meters hotel. It looks absolutely stunning. The designers aimed to replicate the iconic look of “Dhow” or the traditional Arabian yacht.
Second, This hotel was among the first landmarks that made Dubai famous worldwide. Since the opening, Burj al-Arab has been titled as a seven-star hotel. It became the number one destination for luxury and changed the face of old vs new Dubai.
Jumeirah’s Man-Made Islands Backstory
One of the iconic landmarks that changed the face of Dubai before and after drastically is Palm Jumeirah. This ambitious project started in 2001. It took them three years to construct the man-made islands. Then, another two years were spent to finish the structures on top of the islands. Eventually, Jumeirah welcomed its first residents in 2006.
Jumeirah was part of Dubai’s ambitious real estate plans. Its primary goal was to attract wealthy Arab and foreign residents.
Dubai Marina's History
Dubai then and now have a significant difference. The Dubai Marina has become a prominent part of 21st-century Dubai.
The first phase of construction began in 2003. The real struggle of this mega-project was to drive water from the Persian Gulf into a 3.5-kilometer artificial canal. After that, the skyline of Dubai Marina began to take shape gradually. Princess Tower and Cayan Tower (the twisted tower) in this place are among the tallest residential buildings worldwide.
Last Word
The history of Dubai is filled with ambition and progressive leadership. The rapid growth of Dubai is unmatched. When we take a look at Dubai before and after sights, it’s almost like seeing photos of our own childhood. This is what makes the history of Dubai so exciting.
What do you think of the modern Dubai design? Between Dubai then and now, which one do you prefer?
FAQ
Before the discovery of oil, Dubai was a small port that relied on fishing and trading as its economic sources. The structures were modest, and houses were mostly traditional wind-towers. However, oil provided extra resources to boost Dubai’s modern infrastructure.
Traditional places like the Al Fahidi Fort (home to the Dubai Museum) and the Al Bastakiya Quarter, with its traditional wind-tower architecture, form the old Dubai. Besides, Dubai Creek was the city’s trading spot for years.
Apart from the architectural differences, old Dubai has a more slow-paced and traditional lifestyle. Whereas the new Dubai is experiencing a fast-paced and cosmopolitan lifestyle with world-class amenities.
