In this article, I present Dubai Before/Afterthrough its history and the changes that have transformed it into the incredible city it will be in 2022.
Here you'll find
- An introduction to Dubai and its history
- Its evolution over time
- The dates and discoveries that changed everything
- Plans for Dubai's future
- And much more!
If you're looking for before-and-after information on Dubai, you'll love this article.
Follow the guide!
Dubai before and after: article summary
Dubai before and after : 40 years to change everything
Dubai wasn't always the oversized city can be visit today, far from it!
From a simple stretch of desertThe city has undergone a rapid metamorphosis into a megalopolis, and not by chance.
Although the first traces of life date back to 3,000 BC. This has been brought to light by excavations in areas Al-Qusais, Jumeirah or Hatta. And it wasn't until the early 20th century that the town traded agriculture, fishing and the livestock trade for major changes in its infrastructure.
From pearls to oil, from the British protectorate to the integration of the Emirate of Dubai into the United Arab Emirates, to the buildings that make up the city it is today, a lot has happened!
To offer you a before-and-after look at DubaiTo give you an idea of the city's rapid and impressive transformation, I'd like to take a look back at its history and development.
The first steps of the city of Dubai
If Dubai is today's capital of the emirate of Dubai and the most populous city in the UAE (ahead of Abu Dhabi and Sharjah), it was originally home to a vast mangrove swamp, which dried up around 3,000 BC.
At that time nomadic shepherds settled here to farm, taking advantage of the site's position on the road between Oman and what is now Iraq. Although little information is available about this period, the excavations have enabled us to understand a little more about the livelihoods of the inhabitants at the time and the foodstuffs sold in the centuries that followed.
Fishing seemed essential, as did trade gold, spices and fabricsThis was a transit area, making Dubai a busy place of passage. The situation seemed to remain stable over the following centuries, until the Bedouin tribe of the Bani Yas in 1799.
Dubai: pearls and Englishmen
Dubai is mentioned several times in historical writings and accounts of explorers' adventures, notably by the Venetian merchant Gaspero Balbi in 1580, or by the Portuguese, who settled here between 1448 and 1657, before being driven out by the Dutch during the great explorations.
The town was then known for the Pearl tradewho brought prosperity to the area from the 16th to the 18th century. At the end of the 19th century, the city of Dubai was officially founded (in 1894) and recognized by the United Nations. the EnglishThey enjoy a monopoly on the pearl trade.
This allows Dubai to grow, in particular by applying very low taxes which attracted many neighbors. The machine was up and running, but the Great Depression of 1929 brought this progress to an abrupt halt, leading to years of dearth even causing famine.
Dubai faced competition from cheap Japanese pearls, which put a strain on its economy. the Second World War ne begins. Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum, then in power, took a decision that would radically alter Dubai's future: in 1950, he authorized the construction of a new building, oil exploration in Dubaiin agreement with the British.
The discovery of oil
Whereas Deira and Dubai Creek were the centers of activity, the discovery of oil in 1966 will reshuffle the deck and accelerate Dubai's transformation.
In 1969, exports began and the then Sheikh strong ambitions He will develop infrastructures, launch colossal projects (the World Trade Center, the Jebel Ali Port, etc.) and modernize the means of transport. In 1977, Dubai's population quadrupled in just 10 years. It now counts 200,000 inhabitants, including many foreigners who came to take advantage of the boom to trade.
During the 80s and 90sOther oil fields were discovered. This accentuated the Emirate's power, and it took advantage of the situation to open up to the rest of the world. tourism. This additional income will enable Dubai and its new Sheikh Mohammed, son of the previous Sheikh, to carry out even more ambitious projects.
We then enter the modern era with many of the monuments you'll see during your stay in Dubai.
The modernity of today's Dubai
By 1990, Dubai's population had reached 550,000. Dazzling growth which allowed the sheikh to embark on crazy construction projects, aimed at luxury tourism.
In particular, he built :
- Visit Burj Al Arabhotel considered as 7 starsin 1999
- Visit Dubai Marina in 2000
- The immense Burj Khalifa becoming the world's tallest tower with its 828-metre height
- The crazy project of The World Dubai and its islands to represent the world map (unfinished to date), begun in 2003
- Dubai Mallone of the world's largest shopping centers in 2008
- The artificial island district of Palm Jumeirah in 2009
- More recently the Dubai Framea gigantic photo frame in the middle of the city, which opened its doors (in 2018)
If the old districts and traditional souks are still present in Dubai, it is indeed this crazy architecture to make Dubai one of the world's major tourist attractions by 2022.
And it's not about to stop there, as Dubai is already looking to the future !
Dubai before and after: what future for the city?
Dubai has very ambitious plans for the city's future, as evidenced by the construction of the Dubai Creek Towerdesigned to be the world's tallest towerwhich will be located in the equally impressive, ultra-modern Dubai Creek Harbour.
And you can get a better idea of what the city might look like in a few years' time by visiting the superb Dubai Museum of the Future.
A real time travelfrom the city's past to an exploration of Dubai as it might be in 2071. Amazing! Visit Dubai Frame also presents a forward-looking gallery, to discover the Dubai of tomorrow, with your eyes!
In 2022, Dubai is the city of recordsis home to new expatriates every day and a tourism which is still going strong. It's changed so fast, and you'll see just how much during your stay. A visit to the old town and its new, modern centers are a perfect illustration of how much the city has changed. this rapid evolution!
What to do in Dubai in 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 5 days, a week?
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