Dubai

Dubai is one of the world’s leading tourism destinations, and tourism in Dubai is a major source of revenue. The city hosted 14.9 million overnight visitors in 2016.^[1] In 2018, Dubai was the fourth most-visited city in the world based on the number of international visitors

The discovery of oil in 1966 kick-started the development of present Dubai, however Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum (ruler from 1958 till 1990) realised one day Dubai would run out of oil and started building an economy that would outlast it.^[3] A quote commonly attributed to Sheikh Rashid reflected his concern that Dubai’s oil, which was discovered in 1966 and which began production in 1969, would run out within a few generations. Sheikh Rashid stated “My grandfather rode a camel, my father rode a camel, I drive a Mercedes, my son drives a Land Rover, his son will drive a Land Rover, but his son will ride a camel”.^[4] Sheikh Rashid realized early he needed to diversify the emirate of Dubai‘s economy by building on the city’s trading history and therefore he set out to establish Dubai as the region’s trade and service hub. By 1979, he was successful in establishing the Jebel Ali Port, which became the logical shipping centre for the entire United Arab Emirates and the world’s largest man-made port. He also upgraded Dubai International Airport and built the Dubai World Trade Centre, which was then the tallest building in the Middle East. By the end of the 1970’s, the stage was set for the diversification of Dubai’s economy away from oil and into other areas such as tourism.^[5]