Dubai is a city everyone knows today as being a centre of wealth, grand designs and the exotic, but there are several theories as to how it was originally named. Some say it is a combination of the Farsi words for two and brothers, and others believe its name came about as its souq was similar to a famous market called Daba, although this word also means ‘to creep’, which could be a reference to the flow of the Dubai creek inland. However, I like to believe it came from a word meaning Money, as people from Dubai have always been seen as wealthy due to its roots as a trading centre.

Back in the 18th century, Dubai was little more than a fishing and trading village, but in 1833 the Al Maktoum family settled in the area and the young Sheikh Maktoum bin Buti and his acute leadership skills transformed the village into a busy coastal town. Access at the time was via donkey and camel across the land, or via small boats called Abras which were used to ferry people to and from ships in the bay. Whilst a fairly basic infrastructure, it served its purpose well and gave birth to a reputation as a successful trading area. With a thriving port and a bustling market, Dubai’s residents enjoy a higher standard of living than their neighbours.

Interestingly, although a lot of people believe Dubai is built using the wealth generated from oil, the main revenues are actually from tourism & real estate. The total revenue generated from petroleum and natural gas is a modest 6% of Dubai’s estimated £25 billion economy. It has no doubt provided a solid foundation for the city, but great leadership is clearly what got Dubai to where it is today.

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