The Life Of Luxury In Dubai
The United Arab Emirates are a prime tourist destination because
they stand out as a remarkable example of how petrodollars can
be used to improve the lives of Arabs. In contrast to the
poverty for which so much of Arabia is renowned, Dubai features
skyscrapers and futuristic amusement parks. Modern Dubai is the
product of 20 years of intensive planned development; prior to
this, it was a small fishing port of little importance.
The United Arab Emirates, or UAE, is 32,000 square mile
political union of seven sheikhdoms, formed when the British
left the Gulf region in 1971. The total area of Dubai is
approximately 1000 square miles, and it is the second largest
emirate in the UAE, after Abu Dhabi. In addition to a federal
president and prime minister, each emirate has a separate ruler
who oversees the local government. Dubai, a small fishing
settlement, was taken over around 1830 by a group of Bani Yas
tribesmen from the Liwa oasis, led by the Maktoum family which
still rules the tiny nation today. For most of its history, main
economic activities were agriculture, fishing and pearl
production.
The ruling clan of Dubai was exceptionally progressive, and did
their best to make their tiny nation attractive to traders from
nations including India and Persia. These businessmen settled in
the growing city of Dubai and made it a leading entry port for
trade goods. In 1971, the independent emirate joined with the
other small sheikhdoms of Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Umm Al Quwain,
Fujairah and, in 1972, Ras Al Khaimah to create the federation
of United Arab Emirates.
The discovery of oil in 1966 transformed the region by providing
funds for the development of a modern, western infrastructure.
The Maktoum family, unlike many middle eastern rulers who hoard
oil wealth for their private use alone, ensured that the oil
revenue was deployed in national development. Much of the
modernization is due to the efforts of Sheikh Rasid bin Saeed Al
Maktoum, who ruled from 1958 to 1990.
Well informed of the risks of oil-dependency, Sheikh Rashid
actively promoted industrial ventures to build his nation's
infrastructure. The Aluminium and Cement factory are the result
of this endeavour. He also establised the Jebel Ali Free Trade
Zone, the fifth largest free trade zone in the world. Within 10
years of its inception, it attracted over 900 international
companies that include global giants such as General Motors,
AEG, Aiwa, BP, Ciba, Geigy, Daewoo and Heinz.
Dubai is appealing to tourists as well as business executives.
Like the rest of the U.A.E., it has also been actively promoting
itself as a vacation destination. In June 1996 World Travel
prizes ceremony held in Las Vegas, USA, it won the gold prize
for the best destination in the Middle East.
Dubai features the annual Dubai Shopping Festival, the Dubai
World Trade Center which hosts innumerable international events
and fairs, the Dubai Air Show, the Dubai Summer Surprises, the
world's tallest skyscraper, an undersea hotel and even indoor
alpine skiing at the Ski Dubai Dome.
The Dubai International Airport is reputed to be the world's
second best transit airport. It currently handles 7.3 million
passengers per year with a growth rate of 12% that is double
that of any other airport in the world. The emirates, which will
begin receiving Airbus A380 superjumbos starting April 2007,
will hire 8,000 new staff members as cabin crew for its rapidly
expanding air fleet. It is investing $20 million to expand its
crew training facility at the Emirates Training Center in
Garhoud.