Changes

===1930s===

===1930s===

Dubai suffered economically after 1920 due to the collapse of the pearl industry, the Great Depression of the 1930s, and the loss of extensive trade networks during World War II. Until the surge of oil revenues in the late 1960s, political instability and merchant unrest existed and consituted an organized attempt to subvert British control and the ruling Al-Maktoum family.  African slavery was practiced until the 1960s.  The uprising of 1938 in Dubai was the culmination of a decade of grievances and minor rebellions against the autocratic rule of Shaykh Sa'id bin Maktum (ruled 1912-58). In the 1930's the Trucial Coast was characterized by great poverty resulting primarily from a decline in the pearl trade. Much of the initiative for reform sprang from an attempt to ameliorate economic conditions--the leaders of the movement having previously been successful pearl merchants. The new government established in October 1938 lasted only a few months before Shaykh Sa'id with Bedouin support was able to overthrow it in March 1939. The collapse of the reform movement is attributable to the role played by British agents and the weakness of the political structure that was set up. Until 1979, angry border dispued with Abu Dubai simmered on and off, verging on warfare.

Dubai suffered economically after 1920 due to the collapse of the pearl industry, the Great Depression of the 1930s, and the loss of extensive trade networks during World War II. Until the surge of oil revenues in the late 1960s, political instability and merchant unrest existed and consituted an organized attempt to subvert British control and the ruling Al-Maktoum family.  African slavery was practiced until the 1960s.  The uprising of 1938 in Dubai was the culmination of a decade of grievances and minor rebellions against the autocratic rule of Shaykh Sa'id bin Maktum (ruled 1912-58). In the 1930's the Trucial Coast was characterized by great poverty resulting primarily from a decline in the pearl trade. Much of the initiative for reform sprang from an attempt to ameliorate economic conditions--the leaders of the movement having previously been successful pearl merchants. The new government established in October 1938 lasted only a few months before Shaykh Sa'id with Bedouin support was able to overthrow it in March 1939. The collapse of the reform movement is attributable to the role played by British agents and the weakness of the political structure that was set up. Until 1979, angry border dispued with Abu Dubai simmered on and off, verging on warfare.

[[File:Gulf2.jpg|thumb|340px|tiny Dubai is near the "i" in "Dubai" on the map]]

[[File:Gulf2.jpg|thumb|340px|tiny Dubai is near the "a" in "Dubai" on the map]]

===Wealth===

===Wealth===

In 1966 the discovery of oil brought vast wealth to the Trucial States (UAR).  Dubai is small and has limited oil reserves, so its rulers turned to the merchants. Starting in the 1980s, crown prince Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, refashioned Dubai into a free-trade oasis. It opened a tax-free infotech hub, Dubai Internet City, in 2000, to attract technology companies; media, finance and maritime projects soon followed.  Dubai deliberately followed a path of extensive trade, tourism, and open-society development. This has entailed very rapid growth, great wealth, and liberal policies toward liquor (but with strong criminal penalties for homosexuality).

In 1966 the discovery of oil brought vast wealth to the Trucial States (UAR).  Dubai is small and has limited oil reserves, so its rulers turned to the merchants. Starting in the 1980s, crown prince Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, refashioned Dubai into a free-trade oasis. It opened a tax-free infotech hub, Dubai Internet City, in 2000, to attract technology companies; media, finance and maritime projects soon followed.  Dubai deliberately followed a path of extensive trade, tourism, and open-society development. This has entailed very rapid growth, great wealth, and liberal policies toward liquor (but with strong criminal penalties for homosexuality).