Where to Live

How Dubai was built

238 dated places from Wikidata (districts, towers, metro stations, malls, schools, hospitals, hotels) plus 21 curated milestones, by decade. Wikidata is incomplete: a missing tower means nobody has entered its date yet, not that it does not exist.

Also: Abu Dhabi · data as of 2026-10-30

  1. Before 1900

    1833 · milestone
    Al Maktoum settle Bur Dubai

    About 800 members of the Bani Yas tribe led by Maktoum bin Butti settle at the Creek; Dubai becomes an independent sheikhdom.

    Source: Dubai Municipality historical record / Wikipedia
    1894 · milestone
    Tax-free port

    Sheikh Maktoum bin Hasher exempts foreign traders from tax; Persian and Indian merchants move to Bastakiya and Deira.

    Source: Wikipedia: History of Dubai

  2. 1900s 1 places

  3. 1940s 2 places

  4. 1950s

    1959 · milestone
    Dredging of the Creek

    Sheikh Rashid borrows from Kuwait to dredge the Creek; Dubai becomes the Gulf's main re-export port.

    Source: Wikipedia: Dubai Creek

  5. 1960s

    1963 · milestone
    Al Maktoum Bridge

    First bridge joins Deira and Bur Dubai.

    Source: RTA
    1966 · milestone
    Oil discovered (Fateh field)

    Offshore oil funds the first master plans (John Harris, 1960 and 1971).

    Source: Wikipedia: History of Dubai

  6. 1970s 9 places

    1971 · milestone
    UAE founded; Port Rashid opens

    Dubai joins the federation on 2 December 1971.

    Source: UAE Government portal
    1979 · milestone
    Jebel Ali Port and Dubai World Trade Centre

    The largest man-made harbour and the 39-storey tower that marked the start of Sheikh Zayed Road's growth southward.

    Source: Wikipedia

  7. 1980s 2 places

    1985 · milestone
    Emirates airline and Jebel Ali Free Zone

    JAFZA creates the free-zone model that later produces Internet City, Media City and DIFC.

    Source: Wikipedia

  8. 1990s 7 places

    1999 · milestone
    Burj Al Arab

    The sail-shaped hotel on Jumeirah's coast becomes the city's symbol.

    Source: Wikipedia

  9. 2000s 39 places

    2002 · milestone
    Freehold for foreigners

    Decree allows non-nationals to buy property in designated areas; Emaar (Emirates Hills, Marina), Nakheel (Palm, JLT) and Dubai Properties begin the master-community boom. Codified in Law No. 7 of 2006.

    Source: Dubai Land Department
    2004 · milestone
    DIFC opens

    The financial free zone with its own courts anchors the central business axis.

    Source: DIFC
    2006 · milestone
    Palm Jumeirah first residents

    Shoreline Apartments and frond villas handed over; the Marina, JLT and Discovery Gardens fill up in the same years.

    Source: Nakheel / Wikipedia
    2009 · milestone
    Dubai Metro Red Line; debt crisis

    The Red Line opens on 09/09/09 as prices fall 40–50% after the 2008 crash; Abu Dhabi provides a USD 10bn bailout.

    Source: RTA; Wikipedia

  10. 2010s 66 places

    2010 · milestone
    Burj Khalifa and Downtown

    The 828 m tower opens; Downtown becomes the premium core.

    Source: Emaar
    2011 · milestone
    Green Line

    Metro Green Line serves Deira, Bur Dubai, Karama and Healthcare City.

    Source: RTA
    2014 · milestone
    Dubai Tram; Dubai Hills announced

    Tram links the Marina and JBR; Emaar and Meraas launch Dubai Hills Estate.

    Source: RTA; Emaar
    2016 · milestone
    Dubai Canal

    The canal cuts through Business Bay to the sea, creating new waterfronts in Jumeirah and Al Wasl.

    Source: RTA
    2019 · milestone
    Golden Visa; JVC overtakes the Marina in supply

    Long-term residency visas tied to property; JVC becomes the largest source of new apartments.

    Source: UAE Government; DLD

  11. 2020s 5 places

    2021 · milestone
    Expo 2020 and Route 2020

    Metro branch to the Expo site; Expo City Dubai becomes the anchor of Dubai South.

    Source: RTA
    2023 · milestone
    Record transactions

    DLD records more than AED 600bn of transactions; rents in central districts rise 20–30% year-on-year.

    Source: Dubai Land Department annual report
    2024 · milestone
    Dubai 2040 plan in action; Blue Line approved

    AED 18bn Blue Line (Creek Harbour, Festival City, Silicon Oasis, Academic City) due 2029; Al Maktoum airport expansion announced.

    Source: RTA; Dubai Media Office