Case Study:
The Success of Dubai

An Ambitious Vision
for a Small Country

A vision of a modern city independent of oil money

Vision of a Financial center

Vision – bigger, taller, better

A vision of making Dubai attractive to all nationalities and religions

Strong and visionary leadership - Al Maktoum

A vision of Urban development - An international city Inspired by London

Truly international culture

Peace treaty with local Sheiks in the 19th century to ensure peace

Strategic location between east and west (especially between London and Bombay in the British empire)

Dubai Creek that was deepened helped the sailing of ships into the city

Creating Emirates – the international airline

Making Dubai super accessible to get to

Dubai is friendly to foreigners

Flow of Indian and Persian Traders that came

95% of Dubai's residents are foreigners.

Creating grand projects to create an international buzz – such as skyscrapers.

Building Dubai's International financial center

Building Economic Zone with special friendly laws.

Building an International Airport

Bringing the right people to build it – architects, engineers, entrepreneurs

Creating a huge real estate market

Oil found in 1966 brought more resources

Investing in infrastructure –

Tax incentives – No taxes were charged from traders (1900)

Becoming a trading Hub for traders (peals and others) in the Persian Gulf

Making Dubai an Attractive place to do business in

Incentives for foreign investments – Foreigners can own land 2002

Bringing the big banks to Dubai (HSBC, Citibank)

Investing profits from oil in urban development