Dubai and Its Remarkable Transformation


Recently, many friends have had the opportunity to explore Dubai, a city renowned for its futuristic appeal and countless extraordinary qualities. Their journeys were filled with memorable experiences, and they returned truly enchanted by what the city offers. Despite Dubai’s constant growth and bustling energy around the clock, every moment spent there was cherished amid its vibrant atmosphere.

While Dubai—the emirate’s capital and home to 3.5 million residents—boasts immense urban development, Hammamet’s expansion remains much more modest. Over the past thirty years, Dubai has risen dramatically from the sands of the United Arab Emirates, evolving into the megacity known today, with its most significant growth occurring in the last decade.
Originally founded in the 18th century, Dubai was long a small, isolated community reliant mainly on pearl-fishing by the late 19th century. During this era, Dubai and its emirate rose in prominence, eventually contributing to the foundation of the Trucial States in 1853. After facing hardships between the world wars, Dubai embraced modernization in the latter half of the 20th century, playing a key role in forming the United Arab Emirates in 1971, with its emir serving as vice president of the federation.

Though Dubai is not the UAE's official capital, it has become its most famous city, largely due to global media coverage of its iconic tourism projects. Notable landmarks such as the Burj Al Arab—often cited as Dubai’s most luxurious hotel—and impressive real estate ventures including the Palm Islands, the World archipelago, Dubai Marina, and the world’s tallest building, Burj Khalifa, have cemented the city's reputation. These ambitious projects, backed by local authorities, aim to establish Dubai as a leader in luxury tourism and an international center for business, finance, family travel, and commerce.
Situated 130 km northeast of Abu Dhabi, 362 km west-northwest of Muscat, and about 60 km from Oman’s border, Dubai is also 864 km east of Riyadh and 1,226 km south-southeast of Tehran. The city is built along the curve of Khor Dubai, a sea inlet extending into the desert and creating a natural harbor. Deira, its historic heart, still maintains traditional Arab architecture with modest buildings and winding alleys. New neighborhoods stretch out into the desert and along the western coastline, forming a sprawling metropolis that includes areas like Ali, Umm Suqeim, Al Barsha, Jumeirah, and Bur Dubai.

These newer districts feature expansive residential complexes, tall skyscrapers, and single-family homes, extending southward on both sides of Sheikh Zayed Road—the UAE’s main thoroughfare and future backbone of the city. This road, lined with 573 skyscrapers across the emirate, links residential communities to major tourist destinations, including the Palm Islands, the World, Dubai Waterfront, Ski Dubai, Dubai Marina, Dubai Mall, Burj Al Arab, Burj Khalifa, and Dubailand.
Dubai delivers an unmatched experience, offering lavish hotels, enormous shopping centers, and high-end vehicles. The city’s monumental scale—from towering skyscrapers to massive man-made islands—creates a sense of grandeur and opulence. Its cutting-edge architecture fuses tradition with innovation, presenting bold structures that challenge conventional building norms. Unique attractions—such as extravagant theme parks, indoor ski slopes in the desert, and vast water parks—promise visitors unforgettable adventures.

The Jumeirah Mosque stands out as one of Dubai’s most beautiful architectural achievements. Crafted from carved stone, its elegant design and refined details make it a true gem of the city. Aquaventure, reputedly the largest water park in the world at 17 hectares, offers thrilling experiences, with slides plunging guests through aquariums filled with sharks and rays or launching them down at speeds of 60 km/h from capsules with sudden drop floors.
The Dubai Fountain’s sound-and-light show delivers a captivating spectacle, reminiscent of Las Vegas’ grand displays but even more sophisticated. Dubai Mall ranks among the world’s largest shopping destinations, with over 1,200 stores and a two-story aquarium featuring a tunnel surrounded by marine life—a mesmerizing highlight for visitors.

Dubai’s population has surged over recent decades: from 265,702 residents in 1980 to 669,181 in 1995, then one million in 2004, 1.7 million in 2006, and nearly 2.2 million by 2011. In 2010 alone, the city welcomed 10,000 new inhabitants each month. By 2018, Dubai’s population reached 2,998,326, making it the UAE's largest municipality, and the number is even higher when including the greater metropolitan area shared with Sharjah and Ajman, where only 5% of the population is local.
Dubai has responded to rapid growth by investing in innovation and sustainability. Authorities have built state-of-the-art infrastructure, including a modern metro system, and adopted ecological measures like solar panels on rooftops. These steps seek to minimize environmental impact while supporting continued expansion. Future plans include vertical forests and energy-positive buildings, embodying Dubai’s vision to lead global advancement.

Across the globe, many cities have experienced dramatic urban growth. Each time—whether in Hammamet or Dubai—this expansion has transformed the landscape, bringing population increases, new districts, and enhanced infrastructure to serve growing communities. This analysis will concentrate on these two cases, enabling a closer look at the phenomenon of human-driven urban transformation so distinctive in their contexts.