What Was Dubai Like 1990?

By Anna Duncan

Dubai is one of the most luxurious cities in the world today, with its towering skyscrapers, man-made islands, and high-end shopping malls. It’s almost impossible to imagine the city as it was in 1990.

At that time, Dubai was a vastly different place than it is today. In this article, we’ll take a look at what Dubai was like in 1990.

The Population

In 1990, Dubai had a population of just over half a million people. The majority of these people were expatriates who had come to work in the booming oil industry. The city was not yet the cosmopolitan hub that it is now, with people from all over the world living and working there.

The Landscape

Dubai’s landscape was vastly different from what we see today. There were no towering skyscrapers or man-made islands.

Instead, Dubai was a small desert town with low-rise buildings and dusty streets. The iconic Burj Khalifa, which now dominates the skyline, wasn’t even built until 2010.

The Economy

In 1990, Dubai’s economy was heavily reliant on oil exports. However, the city was already diversifying its economy by investing in other industries such as tourism and finance. The first shopping mall in Dubai, Al Ghurair Centre, had opened just four years earlier in 1986.

The Culture

Dubai’s culture in 1990 was heavily influenced by its Islamic roots. Women wore traditional dress and the call to prayer could be heard throughout the day. However, even at this early stage in its development as a city, Dubai was already showing signs of becoming more liberal than some other parts of the Middle East.

Transportation

The transportation options available in 1990 were limited compared to what we have today. Taxis were the most common form of transport, and there was no metro system. The Dubai International Airport, which is now one of the busiest in the world, was much smaller and less developed.

The Future

Dubai has come a long way since 1990. The city has transformed into a modern metropolis with some of the most impressive architecture in the world. It’s now home to over three million people and has become a global center for business, tourism, and entertainment.

In conclusion, Dubai in 1990 was a vastly different place than it is today. It was a small desert town with a heavily oil-dependent economy and limited transportation options. However, even at this early stage in its development, Dubai was already showing signs of becoming the luxurious cosmopolitan city that we know today.