Dubai is a popular destination
for a relaxing beach holiday, an adventurous desert experience,
wild nightlife or a weekend away to shop in the electronics
and gold markets.
Dubai has beautiful white beaches, clear blue
sea, top class International Hotels, many fine and varied
restaurants, in fact Dubai has everything that you could
wish for to have a memorable holiday in safety.
Originally a small fishing settlement,
Dubai was taken over around 1830 by a branch of the Bani Yas
tribe from the Liwa oasis led by the Maktoum family who still
rule the emirate today.
Traditional
activities included herding sheep and goats, cultivating
dates, fishing and pearling.
The liberal attitudes of the emirate's rulers
made Dubai attractive to traders from India and Persia who
began to settle in the growing town, which soon developed
a strong reputation as the leading entrepôt for the region
An independent emirate for most of its history,
in 1971 Dubai came together with Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman,
Umm Al Quwain, Fujairah and (in 1972) Ras Al Khaimah to
create the federation of the United Arab Emirates.
The discovery of oil in 1966 dramatically transformed
the emirate by allowing the development of the economic
and social infrastructure which laid the foundations for
today's modern society.
Much of the credit for this development can
be traced to the vision of the late Ruler, HH Sheikh Rashid
bin Saeed Al Maktoum, who ensured that Dubai's oil revenues
were deployed to maximum effect.
His work has been continued by the present
Ruler, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum |
