Page 289 - UAE Truncal States

Chapter Seven

museum, and now, within the range of its Portuguese cannon, hotels
catering for businessmen from all over the world stand on the other
side of the creek. A road tunnel has been driven under the creek, and
a second bridge constructed near the inland end of the creek. Spoil
from dredging has been used to reclaim land on the seaward side of
Dairah to await development along a Corniche road; while on the
Dubai side the harbour was eventually extended to 35 berths, and
dry docks to rival any in the world were constructed.
Up to the end of 1973 the growth of Dubai as reflected in these
ambitious development projects was partly in response to the
conditions created by an astute merchant community with a network
of foreign contracts. The other part of the growth was, however, the
result of a deliberate policy to attract additional business to Dubai.
Neither the activities of the oil company nor the income from oil itself
actually generated the greater part of the economic growth in Dubai.
Since trade is concomitant with communications, all significant
development projects up to the end of 1973 were concerned with
communications in one form or another. But after the economic
upheaval following the 1973 October War and the enormous increase
in oil revenues, it was decided to embark on a programme of
industrialisation; Dubai’s future was not to be based on trade and
services alone but also on manufacturing industries.
Dubai’s new industrial centre is under construction at Jabal 'Ali,
22 miles south-west along the coast. As with the development of
Dubai itself the Jabal 'Ali project revolves around an imposing
harbour scheme which will eventually contain 66 berths for ocean­
going vessels. Of the many and diverse industrial projects which
were discussed at the inception of the scheme in the summer of 1976,
the aluminium-smelter is the only large one to progress past the
planning stage yet. This and any other large industrial projects
depend on the availability of an adequate supply of cheap gas; some
associated gas is available from Dubai’s oil-fields, but efforts are
being made to obtain further supplies. The construction of this
harbour, too, and the development of large industrial projects are
under the direct control of Shaikh Rashid bin Sa'Id. A great number
of smaller private industrial projects are being developed both in
Jabal 'Ali and in Dubai. The historical pattern of commercial
enterprise on the part of the Ruler creating business opportunities
for merchants is being repeated.
Since the first modest attempt to improve the entrance of the creek
early in the 1950s and thus to influence fortune, the present Ruler of
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