Dubai’s collective soul is matchless

The last two decades have seen Dubai reinvent itself from a small, poor and quiet fishing village located at the south of the Persian Gulf–Arabian Peninsula to a dazzling city with a vibrant urban life. How did this happen? Home to more than 200 nationalities – particularly those from the Indian subcontinent – the emirate’s choice to welcome expatriates has paid off.

Unlike the Gulf emirates that can count on petroleum wealth, Dubai has wound its way to prosperity by planning carefully and executing those plans methodically. Its airline and luxury construction have made it a popular destination for luxury tourism. Projects like the Burj al-Arab, the Palm Jumeriah and the Burj Khalifa, along with events like the world’s richest horserace – the Dubai World Cup – and the Dubai Shopping Festival, have sustained tourist interest and focused the world’s attention on the emirate.


Over the past few days the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has geared up to celebrate its 40th anniversary. The country is gripped by festive spirit and to mark this occasion, Pranay Gupte – a globally established author and foreign correspondent – has recently published his latest book, “Dubai: The Making of a Megapolis.” Gupte draws on his deep knowledge of the region and its leading personalities to trace the city-state’s extraordinary and fabulous journey through his book. And amidst the festivities, he chats to Dawn.com about his experience in Dubai.