History of Dubai

While there are not many documents that tell of the early history of Dubai, archeological digs in the area revealed that some four centuries ago small communities that lived on fishing inhabited that Arabian Gulf coast where the modern city is now located. Many experts of the history of Dubai also believe that the natural harbor of the Dubai Creek was a port as busy as busy then as it was now, only then the boats traveled ancient routes to trade with the Mesopotamians and the people of the Indus Valley.

The archeological findings that were found only recently included a wide variety of artifacts from pottery or earthenware to weaponry and coins, suggesting a civilized community settled in the area going back to 3rd millennium BC. The ancient finds that are so important to the history of Dubai were preserved with utmost care and have found a safe and permanent shelter in the Dubai Museum.

The history of Dubai as a modern city started in the early 19th century, during which some people from the Bani Yas tribe took over a small fishing community settling at the entry of the Creek. The Bani Yas tribesmen were from the oasis of Liwa and their leader was the Maktoum family, who rules the Emirates to this day. According to the history of Dubai, by the late 19th century, the city was known as the main port on Arabian Gulf coast and when 20th century ushered in, Dubai had the biggest souks or markets in the Arab region.

For many decades, pearling was main source of Dubai’s prosperity but this industry was greatly affected when the practice of culturing pearls was developed in the 1940s. However, the merchants of Dubai were naturally innovative and they brought great fortune back to Dubai by developing a prosperous trade in gold, which earned Dubai the name of “City of Gold”. This part of the history of Dubai can be easily experienced by the modern tourist with a visit to Dubai’s Gold Souq or Gold market, the biggest hub of gold jewelry shops in all of the Middle East.

The ruling Maktoum family is known to be liberal and enterprising and it is these qualities that have made Dubai what it is today. Going back to the history of Dubai, the open-mindedness of Dubai’s rulers attracted traders from distant countries such as Persian and India. People from the regions started to settle in the fast-developing city and also contributed to its growth.

A major part of the history of Dubai is the discovery of oil in the city in the 1960s. Needless to say, this greatly changed the emirate and the life of its people. The export of oil were soon followed by rapid developments that were much credited to the late ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, whose work has been sustained by the current ruler, Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and the rest of the Maktoum family