History of Dubai

It's nearly impossible to find a person who doesn't know that Dubai used to be a desert. Only in the 2000s it became the place that we know today. Modern Dubai is a place of extreme luxury, popular boutiques, famous restaurants, clubs, and tallest buildings. It's a city where Dubai luxury car rental is logical, as everybody's driving supercars.

But what about its past? The city has an Old Town district, so it used to look different. While most people know that the city developed rapidly within the last 4 decades, the history of Dubai is obscure to them. This post will shed light on the history and origins of Dubai.

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Where it All Began

It's impossible to imagine Dubai as anything other than a city of luxury, modern architecture, and extravagant lifestyle. Decades ago, it was just a small trading settlement in the desert. Everything changed when oil transformed the region. Today, people admire the Burj Khalifa, rent Maserati, and visit world-famous attractions. But where did it all begin? That's what we're about to explain to our readers.

Bronze Age

Ancient settlers lived in Dubai thousands of years ago. Archaeological evidence shows that people inhabited the area as early as 3000 BCE. Naturally, the city couldn't be called a «city» back then, as even the United Arab Emirates was far away from the establishment.

Early people relied on fishing, pearl diving, and trade. They built simple homes from palm fronds and mud. Artifacts like pottery and tools reveal that Dubai had connections with Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley.

Trade flourished because of its location near the Persian Gulf. People exchanged copper, textiles, and spices. Burial sites found in Jumeirah and Al Sufouh confirm that early settlers have actually led a pretty decent lifestyle for that period.

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Iron Age

Settlements expanded during the Iron Age, which lasted from 1200 BCE to 400 BCE. People started using advanced irrigation systems called Aflaj to transport water. Agriculture became essential, especially because date palms and grains grew in abundance back then.

However, the period is called Iron Age for a reason: copper trade intensified, as Dubai's location made it a crucial stop for merchants traveling between Arabia, Persia, and India. Pottery, weapons, and tools found in excavation sites suggest that communities grew wealthier.

It's quite interesting that ancient writings from this specific period mention a region called Magan, which historians believe included parts of present-day UAE.

Classical Period and Pre-Islamic Dubai

As for the history of Dubai during this period, it was closely connected to Rome and even Asia. Greek and Roman sources from the first few centuries CE mention the Arabian Peninsula as a key trade hub.

Merchants stopped in Dubai to restock supplies and sell goods. The settlement prospered because of frankincense (resin type from trees) and spices transported from southern Arabia to the Mediterranean.

Coins from this era prove that trade routes extended as far as Rome, India, and China. People lived in small fishing villages along the coast. Some engaged in pearl diving, which later became one of Dubai's main industries. Ancient tombs and inscriptions suggest that Dubai had connections with Persian and Nabatean traders.

Early Islamic Period

Islam arrived in the Arabian Peninsula in the 7th century. Many tribes converted to the new faith, including those settlers in Dubai. The city became part of the expanding Islamic empire, which controlled trade routes between Asia, Africa, and Europe.

Dubai's economy still relied on fishing, pearl diving, and small-scale trade; just like it used to in the past. Historical records mention an old fort that protected the settlement from raiders, so it was a protected area where people could live comfortably.

This was the time of cultural development, as the Abbasid and Umayyad caliphates influenced architecture, governance, and daily life. Coins and ceramics from this period indicate that Dubai was connected to major Islamic cities like Baghdad and Damascus.

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Pre-20th and Early 20th Century

There was a very small settlement between 1822 and 1833, with a population of about 700–800 people. A British naval surveyor was nearby and noted in 1822 that the city had a mud wall and people lived in an oval-shaped town.

Everything started to change when, after a certain feud, members of the Al Bu Falasah tribe seceded from Abu Dhabi. They established themselves in Dubai. This settlement was led by Obeid bin Saeed and Maktoum bin Butti. Ubaid died in 1836, so this event led to the establishment of the Maktoum dynasty.

Dubai's location near the Persian Gulf made it an important commercial center. The economy collapsed in the 1930s when Japan introduced cultured pearls, so the demand for natural pearls reduced significantly. Many residents struggled, but trade with nearby regions helped the city survive.

Oil Discovery

Dubai changed forever when oil was discovered in 1966. Before that, the economy depended on pearl diving, fishing, and trade. But as we've already mentioned, Japan found a way to cultivate pearls artificially, so the price of diving decreased exponentially, and it became unprofitable.

Luckily for the citizens, oil turned Dubai city into a wealth center with modern infrastructure. Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum used oil revenue to build roads, bridges, schools, and hospitals.

The first oil field, Fateh, produced large amounts of crude oil. Dubai started exporting oil in 1969, which brought huge profits.

The government invested in industries, tourism, and real estate to reduce dependence on oil. Unlike other Gulf cities, Dubai didn't rely only on petroleum. Sheikh Rashid had a vision of a global business hub, so he focused on trade and construction.

Oil exports funded the creation of Jebel Ali Port, which is the biggest port in the Middle East. Dubai International Airport expanded to handle more flights. The city attracted investors, businesses, and tourists because of its modern infrastructure and tax-free policies.

Modern Dubai

Now that you know how Dubai was built, what about the modern city? It clearly has a bright future and numerous prospects. It's now a place that attracts businesses. There are lowered taxes for companies, which helps them flourish.

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That's why so many people travel to the city as tourists. People often prefer to rent vehicles of premium quality to match the style of the city. And, oh, do they have a range of choices in terms of supercars! Here's Trinity Rental's offers, a company where visitors book the most luxurious cars:

• No deposit is necessary for renting a vehicle.
• The company owns over 80 cars with low mileage, including brand-new releases from 2024.
• The rental price covers full insurance, toll fees, VAT, and 300 km per day.
• A personal manager answers questions at any time.
• Every customer receives a full fuel tank as a bonus.
• Payments are accepted in cash, Visa, Mastercard, and cryptocurrency.
• The team delivers cars anywhere in Dubai.

You can browse the city in luxury if you rent a model from this agency. You may consider brands like Ferrari, Maserati, Bentley, Porsche, and so on.

Important Milestones in the History of Dubai

Top milestones in the city's history occurred in the pre-20th period and beyond. So, here's Dubai history timeline of the most important events:

The city became famous for luxury, high-end shopping, and futuristic architecture. Today, it's common to visit the city and select vehicles from a luxurious car fleet and cruise around on perfect roads. People are interested in the city's history, so they often visit Old Town to try to imagine how early settlers lived in the past.

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Culture and traditions of Dubai

The culture and traditions are influenced by the history of Dubai. The city cherishes its Eastern Islamic world's heritage, which is obvious when you see its architecture, art, and certain areas, like Old Town or Dubai Museum (in Al Fahidi Fort).

Local customs shape the city's identity. Visitors can see vibrant souks, Arabic coffee, and the locals' traditional dress. Still, the city is very diverse, mainly because of its popularity on a global scale. Therefore, it's a place where you can experience different cultures and traditions, not just the ones that are original to this location specifically.