Dubai

Dubai

-Until 1930s known for pearl exports

-In 1966 oil discovered. Industrial and port development followed to improve accessibility. New port at Jebel Ali.

-Population quadrupled 1968-1975 as foreign workers arrived to work in construction and oil production.

-finite source of oil so money from oil use to diversify economy so after oil reserves run out, money could still be made from things like tourism.

-Global businesses such as Microsoft attracted both domestic and international workers to area

-last 10 years tourism important to growth. Investing heavily in tourist infrastructure with aims of 10 million tourists per year by 2010. These projects require skilled labour often foreign and so contribute to growing population since 1993.

-less than 20% of 1.4 millions people who live in dubai are native.