um in 1966.
By the end of the 1960s, all the infrastructure was in place for the city to expand rapidly - roads, bridges, electricity and water networks, a good telecommunications system and the airport.
In 1969 the first exportation of oil was made, thereby securing its place on the international commercial map. At this point, the relatively new city already had around 60,000 inhabitants.
Dubai underwent huge growth during the 1970s. By 1977 the number of inhabitants had already passed 200,000. In other words, the population had quadrupled in the space of ten years.
The high price of oil allowed Al Maktoum to start planning what would become the city as we know it today. At the end of the decade the Jebel Ali port, World Trade Center, and the Garhoud bridge were already in existence.
The United Arab Emirates were formed in 1971 following Britain's departure from the region. Six emirates joined together including Dubai and Abu Dhabi. A year later a seventh would be added. In the negotiations, Dubai and Dhabi ensured that they would control the majority of the Emirates and that remains the case today.
End of the 20th Century
From the 1980s onwards Dubai was an economic powerhouse. The airport was expanded to accommodate the recently established Emirate Airlines, sports and recreation facilities were constructed and tourism was considered as a source of additional income. In this era, new oil sites were discovered in the Margham desert.
The 1980s were also marked by an urban development boom driven by the huge population growth. By 1990 the city was home to 550,000 inhabitants.
In 1990 Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed died and his son inherited the seat of power. His plans for the city were even more ambitious than those of his father and gave rise to what we know Dubai is today.
The present-day economy
Thanks to the efforts of the government, oil is currently only responsible for 20% of the economy. It is actually business and services, such as tourism, which dominate the economy.
Dubai's policy of tax exemption has meant that many large organizations and businesses now consider Dubai as their base of operations.