History of Dubai
In contrary to today's wealth and importance of Dubai which manifests itself in it spectacular building and construction, history of Dubai is not that rich. Little is known about people, culture and life in that part of the Arabian Peninsula before the rise of Islam in the 7th century. The region was controlled by the Sassanids who were driven out by the Umayyad Caliphs that established an empire stretching from northern India in the east and Iberian Peninsula in the west.
First written records of Dubai date from 1095 when it was mentioned by the Andalusian-Arab geographer Abu Abdullah al-Bakri in the Book of Geography. Later records of Dubai such as those of Venetian merchant Gaspero Balbi dating from 1580 mention it for its pearl hunting.
History of Dubai becomes more clear after the 19th century. Dubai was established by
the House of Al-Falasi in the early 19th century but the town remained dependent
from Abu Dhabi until 1833 when Maktoum bin Bati bin Suhail from the Al Maktoum
dynasty captured Dubai from the Al-Falasi without resistance. In return for
protection against the Ottoman Empire, Dubai became the British protectorate in
1892. Dubai was in first place known for its pearling industry until the 1930's
although pearling industry was greatly affected by the World War I and the Great
Depression. Border disputes with Abu Dhabi resulted in the outbreak of a war in
1947, while hostilities between Dubai and Abu Dhabi continued even after the
establishment of the United Arab Emirates in 1971.
The transition from a small trading town to a major cosmopolitan city and construction of present-day architectural wonders started during the reign of Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum (1979-1990).