Dubai is part of the seven emirates of United Arab Emirates (UAE). It has successfully become one of the most famous and sophisticated cities around the world in just a short period of time. In order to understand the evolution of Dubai, we’re going to travel in space and time investigating the nature, society and technology that surround this sunny futuristic city.
Dubai Technology
Dubai had to diversify its economy in recent years through investments in tourism, financial services, real state, etc. So they are building astonishing hotels, the biggest shopping malls, highest skyscrapers, including the tallest building in the world.
Dubai is a futuristic city in the present. Some people don’t like this architectural extravaganza, but I personaly think this a great way to push Engineering beyond its limits, these technology breakthroughs bring a lot of innovation to mankind.
Downtown Burj Dubai
Burj Khalifa aka Burj Dubai – The tallest building in the world
At the top of the building.
Dubai Mall – Largest Shopping Mall in the World
The Old Town
The Address Hotel
Burj Al Arab Hotel
Jumeirah Emirates Tower
Jumeirah Beach Hotel
Madinat Jumeirah Hotel
Jumeirah Living Hotel
Jumeirah Bab Al Shams Hotel
Dubai Marina
Dubai Festival City – Shopping Mall and Hotels
Bur Juman Shopping Mall
Ibn Battuta Shopping Mall
Mall of the Emirates
Dubai Airport
Under Construction Developments
Dubai International Financial Center
Culture Village
Dubai Healthcare City
Business Bay
Dubai Metro
Palm Jumeirah
Palm Deira
The World
Palm Jebel Ali and The Waterfront
Dubai Lagoons
Future Developments
Signature Towers
Jumeirah Gardens
Mohammed Bin Rashid Gardens – Eric Kuhne
Dubai Nature
People usually think desert is a lifeless place, but they are wrong. The desert and the seashore of Dubai support a beautiful diversity of animals, plants and microorganisms.
Dubai Society
As of 2006, the population of the emirate was 1,422,000. Expatriates from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Europeans and Americans made up almost three-quarters of people.
11th Century
In 1095, the Andalusian-Arab geographer Abu Abdullah al-Bakri mentioned Dubai in the “Book of Geography”.
16th Century
In 1580, Gaspero Balbi, a Venetian pearl merchant, visited the area in 1580 and mentioned Dubai for its pearling industry.
17th Century
Dubai was already making use of its natural harbour and a small established fishing village existed.
18th Century
Al Fahidi Fort was built in 1787 and is the oldest building in Dubai. This is a picture of the fort in the 1960’s.
19th Century
In 1820, the General Treaty of Peace was signed between British Government and sheikhs of Ra’s al-Khaimah, Umm al-Qaiwain, Ajman, Sharjah, Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
20th Century
The Japanese invention of the cultured pearl and the economic depression of the late 1920s and early 1930s destroyed the natural pearl market. The population suffered the lack of education and infrastructure.
Dubai Creek in 1960’s.
Souks of Deira in 1960’s.
Dubai Jumeirah/Satwa in 1960’s.
In 1969, Dubai exported oil for the first time. However, oil in Dubai is not abundant like in his neighbor state Abu Dhabi that is one of the world’s largest producers of oil in the world.
Dubai’s first airport in mid-sixties.
In 1971, Dubai inaugurated a new airport in the same year of formation of the United Arab Emirates.
For more wonderful pictures of Dubai in 1970’s, visit Anita van der kroL website.
Daily life at Dubai Creek in 1980’s.
Aerial view of Dubai Creek showing the end of Shindagga Tunnel.
Sheikh Zayed Road in the 1990’s.
21th Century
Sheikh Zayed Road in 2009.
Dubai Future
Although Dubai has emerged as an important international hub, the city is facing some serious issues like financial crisis and labour exploitation. But before you throw stones in Dubai , you should remember this is not the only place in the world with this kind of problems. I hope they fix them.
Like the evolution of life, cities mutate constantly. Dubai will have to make wise mutations in order to survive and adapt to the Earth challenging future. In your opinion, how Dubai will look like in the next generation?
I would love to hear your comments, please suggest me a place for the next The evolution of (city) post, it can be the city you live too.
You should also follow me on twitter here.
Resources
burjdubaiskyscraper.com
imresolt.blogspot.com
Burj Dubai is Today the Tallest Building in the World
The Unusual Architecture of Dubai – Part 1
More about Signature Towers, Dubai by Zaha Hadid
alamuae.com/al-maktoum/showtopics-184.html
Amazing Photos from the Luxury Jumeirah Hotels
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dubai
Map of Dubai
uaeinteract.com
Dubai Strategic Plan 2015
