Dubai has experienced rapid and remarkable growth, making it one of the fastest-developing cities globally, possibly even historically. Photos taken 31 years apart reveal the significant transformation of the Arabian landscape, highlighting Dubai’s extraordinary infrastructural advancements. Part of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the city is renowned for its immense wealth, with its police force even patrolling in luxury vehicles like Bugattis, Ferraris, and Lamborghinis.
Dubai’s Pearling Heritage
For centuries, the region was known for its pearls, with a Venetian trader in 1590 praising the quality of its gems. The Gulf’s pearling industry thrived, peaking around World War One before declining in the 1930s. The last pearling expedition occurred in 1949.
For nearly two decades after that, life in the UAE was relatively quiet, until a significant turning point in 1966—the same year England won its only World Cup.
Oil Discovery in Dubai
In 1966, the discovery of oil off Dubai’s coast completely transformed the city and the wider UAE. With an estimated four billion barrels of oil reserves, the newfound wealth was channeled into building iconic landmarks like the Burj Khalifa, the tallest structure globally, and the artificial Palm Jumeirah island. These major developments were initiated during the reign of Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum in the early 21st century. Further adding to Dubai’s wealth was the discovery of the massive ‘Jebel Ali’ natural gas field in February 2020.
Preserving a Piece of History
Despite Dubai’s rapid modernization, traces of the past remain. A recent social media post contrasted photos from 1985 and 2016, featuring the iconic red and white Toyota sign restored atop a building originally erected in 1974, just three years after the UAE’s formation.
In an interview with Khaleej Times, long-time resident Heidi Struiksma, who moved to Dubai in 1994, humorously noted, “Something old has remained.”