Emirate of Dubai

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Emirate of Dubai
دبيّ
ʾImārat Dubayy
Emirate
Flag of Dubai.svg
Flag
Coat of Arms of Dubai.png
Coat of arms
Dubai in United Arab Emirates.svg
Coordinates: 23°30′N54°30′E / 23.5°N 54.5°E / 23.5; 54.5
CountryFlag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates
Independence from the UK2 December 1971
Seat Dubai
Subdivisions
9 numbered sectors or districts
Government
 • Type Islamic absolute monarchy [1] [2] within a federation
 •  Ruler Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
 •  Crown Prince Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum
Area
 • Total4,114 km2 (1,588 sq mi)
 • Rank2nd [3]
Population
 (2021)
 • Total3,478,300
 • Rank1st
 • Density1,015/km2 (2,630/sq mi)
Demonym Dubaian
GDP
[4]
 • TotalUS$ 138.1 billion (2023)
 • Per capitaUS$ 44,600 (2023)
Time zone UTC+4 (UAE standard time)
 • Summer (DST) UTC+4
ISO 3166 code AE-DU
Religion Islam (the official state religion of the UAE)

The Emirate of Dubai [lower-alpha 1] is one of the seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates. [5] It is the most populous emirate of the UAE. The capital of the emirate is the eponymous city, Dubai.

Contents

Geography

The city of Dubai is located on the coast of the Persian Gulf, while the Emirate stretches inland and is bordered to the south by the emirate of Abu Dhabi, to the northeast by the emirate of Sharjah, to the southeast by the country of Oman, to the east by the emirate of Ajman, and to the north by the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah.

Subdivisions

The emirate and the coterminous city is subdivided into nine numbered sectors. [6] Dubai is divided into 9 sectors of which 1 to 6 are urban and 7 to 9 are rural. In numbers of 2007: 1.511.423 urban, 18.369 rural, 1.529.792 total. The sectors are subdivided into more than 130 communities. In other sources, the sectors and communities are called districts and subdistricts. The enclave of Hatta is a community in Sector 8.

History

Dubai by Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellite in false-colour in 2024 Dubai by Copernicus Sentinel-2 in false-colour.jpg
Dubai by Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellite in false-colour in 2024

In the early 19th century, the coastal township of Dubai was located within the territorial lands of the Bani Yas tribe, however Dubai was also on the borderlands near the control of the powerful Al Qasimi clan. This caused both groups to assert authority over the town. [7] : 13 

In the 19th century, pearls were the main commodity of the region, with buyers from Mumbai, commerce peaked in 1897. [7] : 26 

In 1901, Maktoum bin Hasher Al Maktoum established Dubai as a free port with no taxation on imports or exports and also gave merchants parcels of land and guarantees of protection and tolerance. These policies saw a movement of merchants not only directly from Lingeh, [8] but also those who had settled in Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah (which had historical links with Lingeh through the Al Qawasim tribe) to Dubai. An indicator of the growing importance of Dubai can be gained from the movements of the steamer of the Bombay and Persia Steam Navigation Company, which from 1899 to 1901 paid five visits annually to Dubai. In 1902, the company's vessels made 21 visits to Dubai and from 1904 on, [9] the steamers called fortnightly – in 1906, trading 70,000 tonnes of cargo. [10] The frequency of these vessels helped to accelerate Dubai's role as an emerging port and trading hub of preference. British historian John Lorimer noted the transfer of merchants from Lingeh "bids fair to become complete and permanent", [8] and also that the town had by 1906 supplanted Lingeh as the chief entrepôt of the Trucial States. By 1908, Dubai was home to a population of some 10,000 people. [7] : 21–23 

By the 1930s and 1940s, the pearl business crashed due to cultured pearls from Japan. The economy crashed which triggered a famine. [7] : 28  Hopes were reignited when in 1937 an oil exploration contract was signed which guaranteed royalty rights for Dubai and concessionary payments to Sheikh Saeed bin Maktoum. However, due to World War II, oil would not be struck until 1966 at the Fateh oil field. [7] : 36–37 

In December 1971, the emirates united to form the United Arab Emirates, thus ending their status as British Protectorates. [11] [12]

The ruler of the emirate is Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. [13] The emirate is made up of various other communities. The inland exclave of Hatta is located about 134 km east of the city of Dubai. The exclave is bordered by Oman to the east and south, the villages of Sayh Mudayrah and Masfout in Ajman to the west, and Ras Al Khaimah to the north.

Rulers

Demographics

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1953 50,000—    
1968 59,000+1.11%
1980 276,301+13.73%
1985 370,788+6.06%
1995 689,420+6.40%
2005 1,321,453+6.72%
2010 1,837,610+6.82%
2017 2,836,062+6.40%
Source: Citypopulation [20]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Arabic: إمارة دبيّ, romanized: ʾImārat Dubayy

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of the United Arab Emirates</span>

The United Arab Emirates is a country in the eastern part of the Arabian Peninsula located on the southeastern coast of the Persian Gulf and the northwestern coast of the Gulf of Oman. The UAE consists of seven emirates and was founded on 2 December 1971 as a federation, after UK armed forces left the region. Six of the seven emirates declared their union on 2 December 1971. The seventh, Ras al Khaimah, joined the federation on 10 February 1972. The seven sheikdoms were formerly known as the Trucial States, in reference to the truce treaties established with the British in the 19th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah</span> Emirate and one of the constituents of the United Arab Emirates

Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) is the northernmost of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates. The city of Ras Al Khaimah, abbreviated to RAK or RAK City, is the capital of the emirate and home to most of the emirate's residents. It is linked to the Islamic trading port of Julfar. Its name in English means "headland of the tent". The emirate borders Oman's exclave of Musandam, and occupies part of the same peninsula. It covers an area of 2,486 km2 (960 sq mi) and has 64 km (40 mi) of beach coastline. As of 2023, the emirate had a population of about 400,000.

Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr Al Qasimi (1781–1866) was the Sheikh of the Qawasim and ruled the towns of Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Jazirah Al Hamra and Rams; all within the then Trucial States and now part of the United Arab Emirates. Briefly a dependent of the first Saudi Kingdom, his rule over Ras Al Khaimah ran from 1803–1809, when he was deposed by order of the Saudi Amir and restored in 1820, going on to rule until his death in 1866 at the age of 85. He was Ruler of Sharjah from 1814–1866, with a brief disruption to that rule in 1840 by his elder son Saqr. He was a signatory to various treaties with the British, starting with the General Maritime Treaty of 1820 and culminating in the Perpetual Maritime Truce of 1853.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ajman</span> Capital of the Emirate of Ajman, United Arab Emirates

Ajman is the capital of the emirate of Ajman in the United Arab Emirates. It is the fifth-largest city in UAE after Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Al Ain. Located along the Persian Gulf, it is engulfed by the larger emirate of Sharjah in territory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum</span> Emirati businessman (born 1958)

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum is an Emirati businessman and member of Dubai's ruling Al Maktoum family. He is the president of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, CEO and founder of the Emirates Group, and chairman of Dubai World.

The earliest written record of Dubai (Dibei) is accredited to Muhammad al-Idrisi, who mapped the coast of the UAE in the tenth century AD. Circa 1580, the state jeweler of Venice, Gasparo Balbi, documented the pearling industry of Dubai and other cities currently presiding in UAE territory. Though traditionally conservative, the UAE is one of the most liberal countries in the Gulf, with other cultures and beliefs generally tolerated. Politically it remains authoritarian, however, relations with neighbouring Iran have been tense because of an ongoing territorial dispute over Gulf islands. The UAE was one of only three countries to recognise Taliban rule in Afghanistan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saeed bin Maktoum bin Hasher Al Maktoum</span> Sheikh

Sheikh Saeed bin Maktoum bin Hasher Al Maktoum was the longest-serving Ruler of Dubai, from 1912 until his death in 1958. He presided over Dubai during the end of the pearling boom and through the long and difficult recession that followed the collapse of the pearling market, transforming Dubai into an active trading hub which developed new markets and economic opportunities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">House of Al Falasi</span> Tribe and its Al Maktoum branch

The House of Al Falasi is both a name of a tribe and a name of its Al Maktoum branch.

The General Maritime Treaty of 1820 was initially signed between the rulers of Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Great Britain in January 1820, with the nearby island state of Bahrain acceding to the treaty in the following February. Its full title was the "General Treaty for the Cessation of Plunder and Piracy by Land and Sea, Dated February 5, 1820".

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Maktoum bin Butti was the joint founder and first ruler of Dubai, today one of the United Arab Emirates, alongside Obeid bin Said bin Rashid, with whom he led a migration of the Al Bu Falasah from Abu Dhabi, seceding from the Bani Yas.

Saeed bin Butti was the third Ruler of Dubai, succeeding Maktoum bin Butti bin Suhail on his death in 1852. He was a signatory to the landmark treaty with the British, the Perpetual Maritime Truce of 1853.

Hasher bin Maktoum bin Butti Al Maktoum acceded to become the Ruler of Dubai in 1859, following the unexpected death by natural causes of his uncle, Sheikh Saeed bin Butti.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Juma bin Maktoum bin Hasher Al Maktoum</span> Sheikh

Sheikh Juma bin Maktoum bin Hasher Al Maktoum was the founder of a branch of the Al Maktoum royal family of Dubai. He was the brother of Saeed bin Maktoum bin Hasher Al Maktoum.

Sheikh Maktoum bin Hasher Al Maktoum was the Ruler of Dubai from April 1894–February 1906. The fifth Maktoum Ruler since the establishment of the dynasty in 1833. Maktoum's short but 'liberal and enlightened' reign was to transform the coastal port. He was responsible for the establishment of the trading community of Dubai, encouraging disaffected merchants from Lingeh to bring their businesses to Dubai after the Persian government had introduced unpopular taxes.

Obeid bin Said bin Rashid was the first Ruler of Dubai under the Al Bu Falasah, jointly leading a migration of the tribe from Abu Dhabi alongside Maktoum bin Butti bin Sohail. He ruled for three years prior to his death in 1836.

Rashid bin Maktoum was the Ruler of Dubai from 1886 to 1894.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut Al Nahyan was the Ruler of Abu Dhabi, one of the Trucial States which today form the United Arab Emirates (UAE), from 1833 to 1845. His bloody accession led to the secession of the Al Bu Falasah and the establishment of the Maktoum dynasty in Dubai.

The Perpetual Maritime Truce of 1853 was a treaty signed between the British and the Rulers of the Sheikhdoms of the Lower Gulf, later to become known as the Trucial States and today known as the United Arab Emirates. The treaty followed the effective subjugation of the Qawasim maritime federation and other coastal settlements of the Lower Gulf by British forces following the Persian Gulf campaign of 1819, a punitive expedition mounted from Bombay which sailed against Ras Al Khaimah, and which resulted in the signing of the General Maritime Treaty of 1820.

References

  1. ↑ "The Political System of the UAE". Archived from the original on 12 July 2012. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
  2. ↑ "Entrenched Monarchy Thwarts Aspirations for Modernity". The New York Times. 22 January 2010. Archived from the original on 10 April 2019. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  3. ↑ About Dubai Archived July 12, 2019, at the Wayback Machine page of the Government of Dubai website (www.dubai.ae). Retrieved 2019-07-12.
  4. ↑ "TelluBase—UAE Fact Sheet (Tellusant Public Service Series)" (PDF). Tellusant. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  5. ↑ "The Seven Emirates of the UAE". WorldAtlas. 5 November 2018. Archived from the original on 20 September 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  6. ↑ Dubai Population Bulletin 2007
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Krane, Jim (2010). Dubai: The Story of the World's Fastest City. London, England: Atlantic. ISBN   978-1-84887-009-3.
  8. 1 2 Lorimer, John (1915). Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf. British Government, Bombay. p. 2236.
  9. ↑ Lorimer, John (1915). Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf. British Government, Bombay. p. 743.
  10. ↑ Wilson, Graeme (1999). Father of Dubai. Media Prima. p. 34.
  11. ↑ ""History of the UAE - UAE Government Website"". Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority - Government of the UAE. Archived from the original on 3 July 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  12. ↑ ""A Guide to the United States' History of Recognition, Diplomatic, and Consular Relations, by Country, since 1776: The United Arab Emirates"". Office of the Historian - Government of the United States. Archived from the original on 21 February 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  13. ↑ "Dubai Ruler - The GDMO - Dubai Government Media Office". mediaoffice.ae. Archived from the original on 29 April 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 Wilson, Graeme (1999). Father of Dubai. Media Prima. p. 23.
  15. 1 2 "Ruling Family in Dubai". His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Archived from the original on 13 December 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  16. ↑ Lorimer, John (1915). Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf. British Government, Bombay. p. 775.
  17. ↑ "The late Vice President Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum". UAE Cabinet. Archived from the original on 14 July 2012. Retrieved 15 November 2012.
  18. ↑ "The Formation of the Federation". National Library and Archives of the UAE. Archived from the original on 9 September 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  19. 1 2 Pranay Gupte (January 2011). Dubai: The Making of a Megapolis. ISBN   9788184755046. Archived from the original on 19 February 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  20. ↑ "UAE: Emirates". www.citypopulation.de. Archived from the original on 17 July 2022. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
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