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
Aluminum and Cement factory are the result of this endeavor. He also established
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.
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