Incredible Dubai: Rare Photos of the UAE Before Oil Was Discovered (16 photos)

Today, Dubai is a sprawling, skyscraper-filled metropolis that looks more futuristic than almost anywhere else on Earth. But back in 1833, when Dubai was founded, it was just a small fishing and pearl-diving village of around 800 people. Bedouin tribes would occasionally pass through, staying in simple huts made from palm fronds.

This photo collection offers a glimpse into life in this remarkable city during the 1950s and '60s, right on the eve of the oil boom. It was only a few decades ago, but the contrast is truly astonishing.







Life in Dubai before the discovery of oil fields.





A camel caravan making its way through Dubai, 1960s.



A vendor smoking a hookah while selling lemons and dried herbs.



A marketplace in the heart of the city.



Bur Dubai, 1960s.



Dubai Airport, 1971.



The airport.



A bird's-eye view of Dubai, 1950s.



The Dubai waterfront, 1950s.



Men gathered for prayer during an Islamic holiday in Dubai.



An oil field in the Trucial States.



One of the inlets in Dubai, 1960s.



The Clock Tower.



The first Jashanmal store in Dubai, 1956.



The first aircraft to land on the new runway at Dubai Airport was a Middle East Airlines Comet in 1965.



Water supply delivery in Dubai, 1960s.