00:00Fifty years ago, Dubai was mostly sand. No skyscrapers. No luxury islands. No global fame.
00:06Just endless desert meeting a quiet coastline along the Arabian Gulf.
00:10Today, it is home to the tallest building on earth, and one of the fastest growing economies
00:15in the world. A city of glass towers, supercars, artificial islands, and global ambition.
00:21So how did a desert town turn into a global empire? How did a place with almost no natural
00:26rivers, no farmland, and limited oil reserves rise to global dominance? This is the unbelievable
00:32rise of Dubai. Dubai wasn't always a city of glass towers and luxury lifestyles. Long before
00:38the skyline, before the mega projects, before the world records, there was only sand, sea,
00:44and survival. In the early 20th century, Dubai was a modest settlement along the Dubai Creek.
00:51Its people relied on fishing, pearl diving, and small-scale trade with nearby regions like
00:56Persia and India. Wooden boats called dhows carried goods across the Gulf. The economy
01:01was fragile, and life was simple. In the 1960s, Dubai was still a small trading port
01:06in the desert. There were no highways, no mega malls, no international airports, just narrow
01:12streets, traditional markets, and a tight-knit community. Life was humble. Fishing, pearl diving,
01:19and trade routes kept the economy alive. But pearl diving collapsed when cultured pearls entered
01:24the global market. The region struggled. Resources were limited. Then everything changed in 1966,
01:30when oil was discovered offshore in the Fateh oil field. For many nations, oil became the final goal.
01:37For Dubai, it became the starting point. Oil revenues began to flow in the late 1960s under
01:43the leadership of Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed al-Maqtum. But here's the shocking part. Dubai's leaders
01:49understood something. Most oil-rich nations ignored. Oil would not last forever. At its peak,
01:56Dubai's oil reserves were modest compared to its neighbor Abu Dhabi. Instead of depending entirely
02:01on oil, they made a bold and risky decision. They invested in the future. They built Port Rashid in
02:07the 1970s. Then came Jebel Ali Port, one of the largest man-made harbors in the world. They expanded
02:15Dubai International Airport, turning it into a gateway between East and West. In 1971,
02:21Dubai joined six other emirates to form the United Arab Emirates, creating political stability and
02:27regional strength. Free trade zones were introduced. Foreign investors were welcomed. Taxes were minimal.
02:34Global companies were invited to set up headquarters. Dubai wasn't thinking small. It was thinking global.
02:39Then came the real transformation. In the 1990s, Dubai shifted its focus to tourism,
02:45aviation, and real estate. The launch of emirates connected the city to the world. Passengers from
02:51Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas now passed through Dubai. In 1999, the iconic Burj al-Arab opened
02:58its doors. Built on an artificial island shaped like a sail, it instantly became a global symbol of luxury.
03:05The world began to notice. The world began to notice. But Dubai was just getting started.
03:11Massive projects followed. Palm Jumeirah, a palm-shaped island visible from space.
03:17Indoor ski slopes inside Mall of the Emirates, in the middle of the desert. And then the ultimate
03:23statement of ambition. In 2010, Burj Khalifa pierced the sky at 828 meters, the tallest structure ever built
03:30by humanity. A message to the world, Dubai had arrived. But growth wasn't always smooth. In 2008,
03:38the global financial crisis hit hard. Real estate prices collapsed. Projects were paused. Debt levels
03:45rose. Many believed Dubai's dream was over. Yet once again, Dubai adapted. It restructured debts,
03:51reformed regulations, and rebuilt investor confidence. Within a few years, growth returned stronger than
03:57before. Dubai diversified further. Finance, technology, logistics, tourism, real estate,
04:04and global trade. Expo 2020, held in 2021 due to the pandemic, showcased Dubai's global influence and
04:12innovation. Today, over 85% of Dubai's population is international. More than 200 nationalities live and
04:18work there. It has become one of the safest and most business-friendly cities in the world. Strategy and
04:25global connectivity. The city that once relied on pearls and oil now thrives on vision. From a desert
04:31trading town, from a global aviation hub, to record breaking skyscrapers. Dubai proved one powerful
04:37lesson. Resources can start a journey. But vision builds an empire. Leadership with long-term thinking,
04:44bold decisions, calculated risks, relentless ambition. Vision turned sand into skyscrapers,
04:51and a quiet fishing village into a global powerhouse. And this is the shocking rise of Dubai.
Comments