Dubai has experienced remarkable growth, becoming one of the most rapidly developing cities globally, possibly even throughout history.
When comparing photos taken 31 years apart, the transformation of the Arabian landscape becomes evident, with the city’s infrastructure highlighting the extraordinary pace of development.
This city, part of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), is renowned for its extreme wealth, among other things. So much so that its police force is famously seen patrolling in luxury vehicles like Bugattis, Ferraris, and Lamborghinis.
Historically, the area was recognized for its pearls. In 1590, a Venetian pearl trader commented on the city’s gemstone quality.
The Gulf’s pearl industry prospered years later, reaching its peak during World War One before declining in the 1930s, with the last pearling expedition recorded in 1949.
For the following 17 years, the UAE experienced a downturn until 1966, coincidentally the same year England claimed their first and only World Cup victory.
In 1966, the discovery of oil off Dubai’s coast marked a turning point, reshaping both Dubai and the wider United Arab Emirates.
With four billion barrels of oil reserves, the city leveraged this substantial wealth to transform from a wealthy city into an ultra-wealthy metropolis.
The city strategically invested in grand architecture, leading to the creation of landmarks such as the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, and the Palm Jumeirah, an artificial offshore residential island.
These projects were initiated under Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s leadership in the early 21st century.
If the oil discovery wasn’t enough, in February 2020, the ‘Jebel Ali’ natural gas field was found, further boosting Dubai’s financial prosperity.
A recent social media post showcases the substantial changes between 1985 and 2016, illustrating the city’s transformation over 31 years.
The image coincides with the reinstatement of the iconic red and white Toyota sign atop a building originally constructed in 1974, just three years after the UAE’s founding.
Heidi Struiksma, a Dubai resident since 1994, humorously remarked to the Khaleej Times: “Something old has remained.”