History

Some 800 members of the Bani Yas tribe, led by the Maktoum Family, settled at the mouth of the creek in 1833. The creek was a natural harbour and Dubai soon became a center for the fishing, pearling and sea trade.

By the turn of the 20th century Dubai was a successful port. The souk (Arabic for market) on the Deira side of the creek was the largest on the coast with 350 shops and a steady throng of visitors and businessmen. By the 1930s Dubai's population was nearly 20,000, a quarter of whom were expatriates.

In the 1950s the creek began to silt, a result perhaps of the increasing number of ships that used it. The late Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, decided to have the waterway dredged. It was an ambitious, costly, and visionary project. The move resulted in increased volumes of cargo handling in Dubai. Ultimately it strengthened Dubai's position as a major trading and re-export hub.

When oil was discovered in 1966, Sheikh Rashid utilized the oil revenues to spur infrastructure development in Dubai. Schools, hospitals, roads, a modern telecommunications network … the pace of development was frenetic. A new port and terminal building were built at Dubai International Airport. A runway extension that could accommodate any type of aircraft was implemented. The largest man-made harbor in the world was constructed at Jebel Ali, and a free zone was created around the port.

Dubai's formula for development was becoming evident to everyone – visionary leadership, high-quality infrastructure, an expatriate-friendly environment, zero tax on personal and corporate income and low import duties. The result was that Dubai quickly became a business and tourism hub for a region that stretches from Egypt to the Indian sub-continent and from South Africa to what are now called the CIS countries.

Since the 1960s, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, then ruler of Abu Dhabi, and Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum had dreamed of creating a federation of the Emirates in the region. Their dreams were realized in 1971 when Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Fujairah and (in 1972) Ras Al Khaimah, joined to create the United Arab Emirates.

Under the late Sheikh Zayed, the first President of UAE, the UAE has developed into one of the richest countries in the world with a per capita GDP in excess of US$17,000 per annum.

In the 1980s and early 1990s, Dubai took a strategic decision to emerge as a major international-quality tourism destination. Investments in tourism infrastructure have paid off handsomely over the years.

Dubai is now a city that boasts unmatchable hotels, remarkable architecture and world-class entertainment and sporting events. The beautiful Burj Al Arab hotel presiding over the coastline of Jumeira beach is the world's only hotel with a seven star rating. The Emirates Towers are one of the many structures that remind us of the commercial confidence in a city that expands at a remarkable rate. Standing 350 meters high, the office tower is the tallest building in the Middle East and Europe.

Dubai also hosts major international sporting events. The Dubai Desert Classic is a major stop on the Professional Golf Association tour. The Dubai Open, an ATP tennis tournament, and the Dubai World Cup, the world's richest horse race, draw thousands every year.

Arts & Crafts

Arts and crafts of UAE is plying a vital role in not only helping the country maintain its own distinct identity but also promoting tourism in the country. In fact arts and culture in UAE is attracting millions of art lovers across the globe. Abu Dhabi and Dubai are two significant spot of attraction for art and craft lovers.

The Qasr Al Hosn is the official residence of rulers of Abu Dhabi represents the beauty if UAE arts and crafts. Crafts. It was built in 1793. Next to it is Cultural foundation. This magnificent building is home to the National library, an auditorium, exhibition halls and a cinema. The Cultural Foundation is the hub of Abu Dhabi's cultural life and stages concerts, plays, lectures and a variety of other events. Here one can see local arts and crafts and Islamic Calligraphy. The new heritage Village at the breakwater also provides a lot of insights about art and craft of UAE to the art lovers. The Women's Craft Center at the Al maktoum street also helps promoting traditional arts and crafts of UAE by producing hand made souvenirs hand woven cloths. The prices of these products are fixed. The Center for Documentation and Research at the Presidential Court on Airport Road contains a collection of old photographs tracing Abu Dhabi's development from the 1930s. Other exhibits cover the emirate's natural history and old weaponry. The Hemisphere Design Studio and Gallery at the heart of Abu Dhabi is another attraction for the lovers of UAE art and crafts. It is a showcase for artists who live and work in the city and seek to raise profile of the artists by organizing events and exhibitions for both domestic and international audience.

Dubai is another important emirate for the lovers of art and crafts of UAE. It is home to several modern museums, art galleries and arts and crafts center. Founded in! 976 the Arts Center in Jumeriah promotes the traditional arts and crafts of the region. Another important center for arts and crafts lovers of UAE is The Dubai International Art Center. IT exhibits contemporary art and craft made by its members and international artists. Some of the popular crafts in Dubai include the traditional abras or boats, potteries, jewelry, woven bags, shawls and rugs etc.

Popular art galleries in Dubai include the Majlis Gallery, exhibiting art of local and international artists and Al Abbar Art Gallery showcasing wide selections of local and foreign arts. Other major art galleries in Dubai are Abrash Gallery, Al Owais Cultural Foundation, Artworks Gallery, Art House Dubai, Bagash Art Gallery, Burjuman Art Gallery, Basta Art Café, Creative Art Centre to name a few.

crafts and by actively promoting and establishing centers of arts and crafts.