Page 76 - The Postal Agencies in Eastern Arabia

The name Dubai derives from the Arabic word for young locusts >
not yet able to fly and, in this form, denotes a soft tract of desert where
locusts lay their eggs. By virtue of its position on the creek it is also
often referred to as the “Venice of the Gulf’. Mere, on the West bank,
were the headquarters of the British Political Agent for the Trueial
Stales, moved from Sharjah in 1954, and the Ruler’s palace.

The Ruler, Shaikh Rashid bin Said, succeeded in 1958 following
the death of his father, Shaikh Said bin Maktum, who had ruled from
1912. For some years before his accession he had conducted much of
the business of the State; and many of the improvements made in
recent years are due to his leadership. With the help of grants made by
Britain, Kuwait and Qatar, together with important customs revenues,
and oil concession payments, a trade school and a hospital have been
established, the airport has been improved to international standards,
an automatic telephone system has been installed and the creek has
been bridged between Dubai and Deira.

Wind Towers and ferry boat at Dubai.

But, despite these modern innovations, Dubai until recently
showed less trace of Western influence than any other commercial
centre in the Gulf. There are few Europeans and the population is an
Oriental mixture of Indian and Pathan shopkeepers, Persian merchants
and Arab and Baluchi tribesmen. Every kind of local craft may be
seen in the creek and small boats still ferry passengers between the two

75