In Pictures: The Stunning Transformation Of The UAE

We explore the UAE’s development from a desert oasis to a metropolitan hub through the eyes of those people who witnessed it firsthand.

Just over 50 years ago, the United Arab Emirates, a collection of seven states, had an economy that was mostly reliant on pearl diving and fishing. The discovery and exportation of oil in the 1960s brought a new era of trade and completely revolutionised the nation. With a booming economy, the UAE was able to fund a period of rapid development and, over the last 50 years, the landscape has become overrun with towering skyscrapers.

This image of the Al Maqta Watch Tower and Crossing dates back to March 1950. It’s said that you had to wait for the tide to go out in order to cross to the mainland, and journeying from Abu Dhabi to Dubai took four hours, over double today’s travel time.

This picture depicts the process of reclaiming land from the sea along the Al Ras Waterfront, Dubai, in 1965 and immortalises the expansion of the city that took place as new land was created. This later became part of Dubai’s Waterfront project, which was planned to be the largest waterfront and manmade development in the world.

Taken in early 1968, these images were captured after the completion of a mosque in Abu Dhabi. Compare this to the iconic Sheikh Zayed Mosque, which debuted in 2007 after 11 years of construction, and is now the city’s main attraction.

Captured in 1979, this picture shows the Abu Dhabi bus station and fish market. The market is still popular today, not only among locals, but also with tourists, who get to see a glimpse of what life was like in the old city. Many tourists visit the market to get a flavour of the local catch; you can even buy fish here that has been cooked using traditional recipes.

The first two images show the beginnings of Le Méridien Hotel Abu Dhabi back in 1979. Compare them to the more recent photos to see just how far the city has come. Abu Dhabi is now home to some of the most famous hotels in the world, such as Emirates Palace, which was formerly the world’s most expensive hotel, or the St Regis Abu Dhabi, which boasts the world’s highest hotel suite. Redefining the concept of luxury and leisure, UAE’s capital strives to be a leading destination for travellers, offering exclusive experiences and palatial accommodation.

The iconic Abu Dhabi Corniche, which was used as a port prior to the 1970s, has for decades been a popular meeting spot for residents. With parks, cycle paths, malls, fountains and hotels such as the stunning Emirates Palace, the area is a hub of leisure. The pictures here show it in 1979 and more recently in 2013. In the second picture, you can see the rapid development Abu Dhabi has undergone and the replacement of smaller buildings by towering skyscrapers.

This 1990 snapshot of Sheikh Zayed Road (also known as E11) captures the longest road in the UAE, which runs from Abu Dhabi to Ras Al Khaimah. The second image, taken only 17 years later, shows the extensive development that the city has undergone since then.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.