LAND,
PEOPLE, AND ECONOMY
Dubai is actually a city that developed on Dubai creek. The traditional
occupations were pearling, fishing and livestock (camels). It
was also a good harbour base for traditional Arab merchants using
ships called Dhows--- transporting all sorts of merchandise all
over the Indian Ocean. Over the last thirty years oil wealth has
transformed the simple fishing harbour of Dubai into a lively
commercial city and is in fact today a major commercial centre.
The main industries in Dubai are oil and petroleum, shipping,
cargo, banking and commerce. The state also runs large hospitals,
schools, telecommunications etc.