Modern Dubai is the product of the past 20 years of intensive development. Prior to that, Dubai was a small trading port, clustered around the mouth of the Creek.

It had grown gradually from a fishing village inhabited in the 18th century by members of the Bani Yas tribe. Its origins, however, go back into the far more distant past. The town’s museum displays a rich collection of objects found in graves of the first millenium BC at nearby Al-Qusais, while a caravan station of the sixth century AD was excavated in the expatriate suburb of Jumairah.

Dubai lacked the productive hinterland of Abu Dhabi, with its fertile oases of Liwa and Al Ain - its inhabitants were committed to life on the coast, and looked to the sea for their living. They based their livelihood on fishing, pearling and sea trade.

By the turn of the 20th century Dubai was a sufficiently prosperous port to attract settlers from Iran, India and Baluchistan, while the souk on Deira side was thought to be the largest on the coast, with some 350 shops. The facilities for trade and free enterprise were enough to make Dubai a natural haven for merchants who left Lingah, on the Persian coast, after the introduction of high customs’ dues there in 1902.

The successful early development was due in large part to the foresight of Dubai’s rulers. During the 20th century the city has benefited from the stabilizing influence of two exceptionally long rules: that of H H Shaikh Saeed Bin Maktoum from 1912 to 1958, followed by that of his son, H H Shaikh Rashid Bin Saeed al-Maktoum. For many years prior to his father’s death in 1958 Shaikh Rashid has played a leading role in directing the state. Since then he has guided Dubai in its expansion from a small, old-world town to a modern state with excellent communication, and industrial infrastructure, and all the comforts of contemporary life. Since 1980 Shaikh Rashid has played a background role due to ill health but his four sons have continued his policies in exactly the same mould.

The development of Dubai was greatly facilited by discovery of oil and its production since 1960. Today the dazzaling Dubai is due to intensive planning of the ruler and cooperation of the people in Dubai. The government has built the largest man made harbour in the world, with dredged deepwater approch channal streching far out to sea and to create a complete induatrial complex it has establihed. such major undertaking as an aluminium smelter and separate gas plant. Now the have ample water supply which has anabled the local enthusiasts to create garden so lush and colorful that visitor don't belive that they are in Arab.

A one-and-a-half hour drive along a good asphalt road leads to Hatta, most easterly of Dubai’s territories. This pleasantly green valley, is a small enclave in the dramatic, arid Hajar mountains and is completely surrounded by land belonging to Oman, to Ajman and to Ras al-Khaimah. Here, the charming Hatta Fort Hotel in its beautiful gardens gives a warm welcome to visitors.

Nearer to Dubai, and only about 20 kilometers inland, are the twin oases of Khawanij and Awir. These oases, which can be reached in 25 minutes from the town center, lie in attractively wooded dune lands. They have been extensively developed over the past 20 years and boast fine country houses with superb gardens for some of Dubai’s leading families. The district’s ample water supply has enabled local enthusiasts to create garden so lush and colourful that the visitor finds it hard to believe that this is still Arabia.

The emirate’s largest urban development outside Dubai city is, however, the industrial complex of Jebel Ali, 20 kilometers southwest along the coast. The government has built the largest man-made harbour in the world, with a dredged deepwater approach channel stretching far out to sea, and to create a complete industrial complex it has established such major undertakings as an aluminium smelter and gas separation plant, as well as a residential village of more than 300 houses.