Then and now: Fascinating historical photos show how Dubai changed from a simple fishing village into one of the world's flashiest holiday hotspots Dubai underwent a period of rapid development after oil was discovered in the Persian Gulf in the 1960s It's now home to the world's tallest building and an incredible archipelago of artificial islands, The Palm READ MORE: 17 stunning photos from an award-winning photographer in Vietnam that'll make you want to go By Esther Marshall Published: 13:04 BST, 24 August 2024 | Updated: 13:04 BST, 24 August 2024 e-mail View comments Advertisement It's known for its glamour, influencers and record-breaking architectural projects. But Dubai , in the United Arab Emirates, was once a simple village. Up until the 1950s, residents relied upon fishing and pearl-diving to make money.
However, the invention of artificial pearls in Japan hastened the end of Dubai's pearl industry. Then, everything changed. Oil was struck in the Persian Gulf in 1966 - and the enriched city was thrown into a period of rapid development.
Dubai Creek - a natural seawater port - was widened to increase trade and the Dubai World Trade Centre was completed in 1979. More recently, Dubai has turned its attention to tourism. A network of artificial holiday islands, known as The Palm, was finished in 2007 and the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa (830m/2,723ft), opened in 2010.
Dubai was even named the world's best destination in Tripadvisor's 2024 Travellers' Choic.