In 1833, Sheikh Maktoum bin Butti moved the Bani Yas tribal family into Dubai. Sheikh Maktoum subsequently became the founder of the Al Maktoum family who still rule the Emirate to this day.
In 1892 H.H. Sheikh Maktoum launched a formal trading agreement with the British government, establishing a full tax exemption to all foreign traders. As a result of being duty free, the re-export business (whereby cheap goods could be imported into a duty free port and immediately exported to another market) accelerated.
In 1912, H.H. Sheikh Rashid (often referred to as the father of Dubai) was born. He was the first ruler to visualise the trade potential that Dubai had to offer and ordered the development of Port Rashid to handle shipping imports and re-exports, and further develop the shipping trade, most notably in gold. This commercial enterprise continued, which prompted Sheikh Rashid to order the dredging of Jebel Ali Port, now the largest deep-water port in the world.
Sheikh Rashid had a special relationship with the British and was said to enjoy a close friendship with Queen Elizabeth II. His sons all completed their education at Sandhurst and it is perhaps not surprising that the affable relationship between the two countries still continues.
H.H. Sheikh Rashid died in 1990, passing the mantle to his son, H.H. Sheikh Maktoum who himself sadly passed away in January 2006 thus passing the title to the current ruler, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed.
As Dubai continues on its vigorous development, there is no doubt that H.H. Sheikh Mohammed will forge ahead with plans to make Dubai one of the most modern cities in the world.