How Dubai Became One Of The Fastest-Growing Cities In The World

Dubai has been revealed as one of the fastest-growing cities in the world, claiming a population boom of over 500% in recent decades. Here’s how a small fishing village on the edge of the desert became the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Dubai went from a small desert outpost to the fastest-growing city in the world

“Around 50 years ago, oil was discovered in Dubai and helped build it to what it has become today,” says Tom Chitty of CNBC. This might not come as a surprise, but that only tells part of the story. Oil reserves have been found in many countries around the Middle East, so why has Dubai in particular seen such a boom?

The port city that grew from the desert

Dubai was once a fishing village that first began to grow thanks to its proximity to Iran, evolving into an important trade route to the Persian Gulf. This initial economic boom was dramatically cut short in 1929 when the Great Depression saw the collapse the pearl export industry. Residents left Dubai in huge numbers for other parts of the country, and investment in infrastructure slowed to a crawl. Other areas in the United Arab Emirates were expanding from the profits of vast oil field reserves found underground, but it wasn’t until a chance discovery of offshore oil in 1966 that fortunes began to change for Dubai, too. From 1968 to 1975, the population of Dubai skyrocketed by 300%.

The last 30 years have seen the population of Dubai grow to 2,785,000. That’s a remarkable growth of 569%, although oil only accounts for 1% of the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) here.

“One of its main sources of income, and arguably the UAE’s most valuable commercial assets, stem from Dubai’s maritime activities. It’s an important trading port thanks to being positioned at the entrance/exit of the Persian Gulf, and as a result currently hosts the busiest port in the Middle East,” Chitty explains.

Dubai is now a global business hub, with many companies locating offices here due to tax breaks, custom duty benefits and no restrictions of foreign ownership. Thanks to its warm climate and easy accessibility from Europe, Dubai is also a luxury tourist destination popular year-round.

Evening view of the financial and business district of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates

The future

This data is based on the last 30 years, but the current picture tells a very different story. Delhi and Shanghai are showing the biggest rates of growth at the moment, with Dhaka, Cairo and Beijing not far behind.

Cities in India and China will make up the majority of the list in the future, with Tokyo’s status as the world’s biggest city coming under serious threat from Jakarta. Africa is also set to have its own megacities, with Lagos and Kinshasa continuing to see rapid growth in the west and centre of the continent, respectively.

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