Construction of Burj Khalifa being finished in Dubai, in 2008. Ryan Carter / The National
Two camels stand guard outside Dubai's exclusive Al Maha Desert Resort in February 2000. AFP
Cars are bumper-to-bumper on a lavishly decorated Dubai street in March 2000 on the third day of the month-long annual Dubai Shopping Festival. AFP
A view for the first of seven bridges in Westside Marina in Dubai in September 2000. AFP
Visitors attend a Microsoft demonstration at Gitex, the computer exhibition that opened on October 2000 in Dubai. Gitex celebrated its 20th anniversary with what was described by organisers as the biggest ever Middle East technology exhibition. AFP
Jebel Ali Free Zone and Jumeirah in December 2003. AFP
Power boats are seen racing off the coast of Dubai on December 12, 2003, on the final day of the Dubai Grand Prix. The Norway's Spirit won the eighth and final round of the Class One world championship. AFP
An aerial view of Dubai in September 2007. AFP
The opening ceremony of Dubai Shopping Festival on March 1, 2000.
A woman looks at a 62kg gold ring, named Najmat Taiba, on display at the BurJuman shopping mall in Dubai on August 22, 2000.
Mall of the Emirates under construction, with Dubai's landmark hotel Burj Al Arab in the background, in September 2004. AFP
A view from above of the $5.4 million (Dh20 million) cable car system inaugurated in Dubai in 2000. The cable cars are suspended 25 metres above Creek Park, giving visitors a bird's-eye view of the creek.
UAE nationals check handmade hoods for falcons during the Arab Hunting Show at the World Trade Centre in Dubai on September 26, 2000.
Arabs working at a desert party take a break in front of the ruins of an old fort on March 24, 2000. About 1,000 guests from around the world were treated to a lavish desert party under a starry sky in advance of the $6,000,000-prize Dubai World Cup horse racing event on March 25, 2000.
An aerial view taken on February 24, 2005 shows the commercial, deep-water Port Rashid in Dubai. AFP
