Dubai in Photos: Then and Now
By Aprille Muscara	 On Dec 2, 2013
The United Arab Emirates celebrates its National Day today, commemorating 42 years since the UAE's formal nationalization from the British and the unification of the seven emirates into a single country under the late Sheikh Zayed, ruler of Abu Dhabi and the UAE's first president.
Since then, the country has grown by leaps and bounds, especially after the discovery of oil in the 1960's. From dusty port towns to playground of the super-wealthy, the UAE's pace and scale of development has been remarkable. Its most populous city, Dubai, is a living testament to disposable income and skyscraping ambition.
Here's a look back at Dubai through the decades.
Dubai Then:
Map of Dubai, 1822
Date seller, 1950, Ronald Codrai
Pearlers rowing into Dubai Creek, 1950 (Ronald Codrai)
Dubai Creek, Burj Khalifa, 1951 (Ronald Codrai)
Dubai, 1959
Dubai Airport, 1960
Duabi Airport, c. 1970s
Dubai Clock Tower
Dubai, c. 1970s
Jumeirah, 1975 (Anita Van Der Krol)
One barrel of Caltex oil, Jumeirah Beach Road, 1975 (Anita Van der Krol)
Dubai, c. 1990
Burj Al-Arab, 1997
Dubai Now:
Future Dubai:
WE SAID THIS: Don't miss Cairo in Photos: Then and Now.
Abu DhabiArchitectureDubaiHistoryPhotosUAE
Aprille Muscara
News and culture junkie interested in human rights, new media and politics. Former aspiring astronaut. Third Culture Kid. Don't call her a millennial.