How Did They Make the Dream Called Dubai a Reality

By: Pankaj Mohan

Dubai's late emir Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum once famously said, "My granddad used to ride a camel, my father did the same, I have been driving a Mercedes and my son uses a Land Rover. Perhaps his son will also do the same, but there is no guarantee down the lane somebody will not be start riding the camels again." He was reflecting his concerns on how Dubai's oil reserves might dry up one day, and the riches bestowed upon his masses will have evaporated. The statement obviously hinted his foresightedness, and also suggested what governing policies he might be thinking about to make the economy be free and non-oil-centric.Much of the initial thrust to any such policy maneuvering though was given by the discovery of oil itself. Dubai had a phase of rapid urban growth once the oil production began in the late 60s. Investment started to flow in and major multinationals began toying with the idea of getting a foothold there. A free-trade center situated closely to the mainland became an instrument for much of the initial trade and commerce. This was followed by a series of infrastructural developments and the arrival of a huge number of expatriates, many of whom were highly skilled professionals.Dubai's own twin port across the Dubai creek, Deira had become an equally important destination for the Western manufacturers in those days. Much of the banking and financial activities had been located in the same areas, which made the significance of these two ports fairly large. Construction activities began taking place thereafter on a massive scale, hence pushing Dubai's urbanization in a fast lane. The city carries now several trade-zones, each having a unique role in the overall economy. Service industries such as IT and finance are the latest additions to the increasing trade in Dubai. Air travel has also been one of the big-time gainers with the state-owned Emirate Airline itself carrying over 12 million passengers in the fiscal year 2005.Dubai government's decision of packaging tourism with the service sector was a crucial one, which helped the economy break away free from its own oil revenues. Not only did it bring in moolah for the trade and commerce, but also brought to the fore tremendous real estate possibilities. Construction has been taking place on a rapid scale since the initiation of those significant policy changes. Projects like Dubai Marina, the Burj Dubai Complex, Business Bay and Dubailand are some of those names that will eventually make Dubai one of the most sought after urban centers in the entire world.Hotel industry is another key area where Dubai's planners have always had tremendous interest. A recent announcement by the authorities says a mammoth $ 27 billion investment is being awaited in the hotel sector. It will double the current number of hotel rooms, estimated to be around 29,000, by the year 2016. This is a significant development, keeping in mind the rising number of visitors Dubai has been experiencing since the last several years. Projects like Burj Al Arab, the only existing seven star hotel on earth, are just a reminder of where Dubai's hotel industry and the infrastructure as a whole are headed to.Sheikh Rashid had a dream and the required vision to transform it into reality. He happened to achieve through his sheer belief, what many thought was impossible to carry out. Dubai's ongoing clout in the area of trade and commerce has to be thankful to all such visionaries and the lineage within.

Dubai´s Historical Urban Development

Dubai is more than 300 years old, and its urban development has taken many unique forms during its history. Today Dubai has grown into a city with a seven-star hotel (the world's only one) and a racetrack that hosts the world's richest horse race (the six million dollar Dubai World Cup at Nad al Sheba Racecourse). These efforts at promoting the city's reputation on the world scene by the ruling Maktoum family are consequences of the 1966 discovery of oil at the offshore oil field of Fath and policies designed to tap into the emerging global economic integration (e.g. the building of the Jebel Ali Free Trade Zone ). The reason Dubai has been able to grow into a world city is because it is "unburdened by history and heritage" . Called the tabula rasa (Latin for "a board having been erased") approach, Dubai has never been one thing for any extended period, meaning that the city "is constantly being re-invented" to adjust to political, cultural and social influences. Consquently, as an Arab fishing village, part of a British colony or a luxurious tourist destination, Dubai has taken different directions throughout its 300-year history.
The first record of Dubai's urbanization occurred in 1799. A small fishing and trading village at that time, Dubai was inhabited by members of the Bani Yas tribe who had come over from the neighboring emirate of Abu Dhabi. The Al Fahidi Fort constructed that year is Dubai's oldest surviving building and marks the city's first step toward urbanization.
When Great Britain began colonizing Arab countries in the nineteenth century, Dubai's ruler signed the General Treaty of Peace with the British in 1820. For the next 13 years, Dubai was subordinate in political, economic and social stature to Abu Dhabi. Then in 1833 a group of the Al Bu Falasah clansmen left Abu Dhabi to settle in Dubai, and the city began to establish its own unique identity. The current ruling family of Dubai, the Al Maktoum family, settled in the city at that time and assumed power. In the fashion of other Moslem settlements, Dubai was then ruled by a sheik, the first being Maktum ibn Bati . All aspects of the city were organized for the sake of the ruling family.
The city of Dubai branched out into three distinct areas: Deira (the largest and main commercial center), Shindagha (the main residential district and the original settlement of the Bani Yas) and Bur Dubai. Most citizens of Dubai lived in barastis , huts made from palm fronds. Families and extended relatives resided together.
With a strong urban structure in place, Dubai was able to fend off an invasion by the Qawasim pirates in the late nineteenth century. The city signed the colonial Exclusive Agreement of 1892 with Great Britain, giving England an urban presence in Dubai until 1971, at which time Dubai gained its independence and began a new phase in the city's history.
In the twentieth century, Dubai has prided itself in attracting foreign investment. Because of its natural harbor on the Arabian Gulf, the city has capitalized on its location on one of the oldest sea routes between the Far East and Western Europe to become "a prosperous trading city" . As evidence that it would like to be further recognized on the world scene, Dubai has built the seven-star Burj Al-Arab hotel and hosts golf, tennis and horse racing events. The city is currently constructing the $1.5 billion Palm-Jumeirah development which, when completed in 2007, will be the "largest man-made island in the Arabian Gulf" and "visible from outer space" .
It is interesting to note the duality in Dubai's modern development. The Burj Al-Arab hotel is shaped as a sail, and the Palm-Jumeirah island is being constructed in the shape of a palm--two important symbols in Arabian history. Yet while these modern projects showcase Dubai's historical symbols, they are not built for the people of Dubai and instead "are being created to respond to globalizing tendencies - tourism, large corporation headquarters, events (conferences, rock concerts, etc.) - thus increasingly catering to transient populations" . In addition, the Burj Al-Arab hotel and Palm-Jumeirah island are located in exclusive areas off the coast that are not accessible to the "average" citizen.
Overall despite a 300-year history, modern Dubai is in almost every aspect a brand new city. It has developed from being an isolated fishing village into a metropolis catering to an almost-exclusively foreign population. Indeed Dubai is a prototypical world city in today's age of global economic integration.

Burj-Al-Arab Hotel

Acknowledged as the Best Hotel in the World.

Designed to resemble a billowing sail, the hotel soars to a height of 321 metres, dominating the Dubai coastline. At night, it offers an unforgettable sight, surrounded by choreographed colour sculptures of water and fire. This all-suite hotel reflects the finest that the world has to offer.

With your chauffeur driven Rolls Royce, discreet in-suite check in, private reception desk on every floor and a brigade of highly trained butlers who provide around-the-clock attention, you can be assured of a highly personalised service throughout your stay.

For reservations, visit www.burj-al-arab.com.