Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth at the inauguration of Jebel Ali Port in Dubai in February 1979. Photo: Wam / National Archives
Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth at the inauguration of Jebel Ali Port in Dubai in February 1979. Photo: Wam / National Archives
Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth at the inauguration of Jebel Ali Port in Dubai in February 1979. Photo: Wam / National Archives
Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth at the inauguration of Jebel Ali Port in Dubai in February 1979. Photo: Wam / National Archives

Prince William retraces Queen Elizabeth's visit to Jebel Ali Port 43 years on


John Dennehy
  • English
  • Arabic

Live updates: follow the latest news on Prince William's visit to the UAE

Fifty years ago Jebel Ali was a small town far removed from the bright lights of old Dubai and the Creek.

But Dubai's Ruler at the time, Sheikh Rashid, had other plans.

His decision to build a port about 40 kilometres from the centre of town astounded some.

It was even thought that the new facility would take business away from the still developing Port Rashid.

The scale of the task was immense: dredgers reclaimed land; roads were built; and even a small town – Jebel Ali Village – was constructed to accommodate the workers.

It was opened in 1979 by Queen Elizabeth II on her landmark trip to the Middle East.

Today, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, retraces her steps with a visit.

  • Prince William plants mangrove seedlings with pupils. Victor Besa / The National
    Prince William plants mangrove seedlings with pupils. Victor Besa / The National
  • Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, visit the UAE pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. After the tour, they were due to hold a private bilateral meeting. Getty
    Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, visit the UAE pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. After the tour, they were due to hold a private bilateral meeting. Getty
  • Prince William visits the UK Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. Victor Besa / The National
    Prince William visits the UK Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. Victor Besa / The National
  • Visitors outside the UK Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. Victor Besa / The National
    Visitors outside the UK Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. Victor Besa / The National
  • Prince William greets Expo visitors outside the UK Pavilion. Victor Besa / The National
    Prince William greets Expo visitors outside the UK Pavilion. Victor Besa / The National
  • The UK Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. Victor Besa / The National
    The UK Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. Victor Besa / The National
  • Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, right, and Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth, accompany Prince William on the tour. Getty
    Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, right, and Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth, accompany Prince William on the tour. Getty
  • Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, right, and Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth, accompany Prince William on the tour. Getty
    Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, right, and Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth, accompany Prince William on the tour. Getty
  • Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed and Prince William chat inside the UAE pavilion. Getty
    Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed and Prince William chat inside the UAE pavilion. Getty
  • Prince William watches a display inside the UAE Pavilion, accompanied by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed and Noura Al Kaabi. Getty
    Prince William watches a display inside the UAE Pavilion, accompanied by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed and Noura Al Kaabi. Getty
  • The Duke of Cambridge signs the pavilion guestbook. Getty
    The Duke of Cambridge signs the pavilion guestbook. Getty
  • Prince William speaking in the DP World Pavilion, EXPO 2020 Dubai. Victor Besa / The National
    Prince William speaking in the DP World Pavilion, EXPO 2020 Dubai. Victor Besa / The National
  • Prince William speaking in the DP World Pavilion, EXPO 2020 Dubai. Victor Besa / The National
    Prince William speaking in the DP World Pavilion, EXPO 2020 Dubai. Victor Besa / The National
  • Prince William speaking in the DP World Pavilion, EXPO 2020 Dubai. Victor Besa / The National
    Prince William speaking in the DP World Pavilion, EXPO 2020 Dubai. Victor Besa / The National
  • Prince William speaking in the DP World Pavilion, EXPO 2020 Dubai. Victor Besa / The National
    Prince William speaking in the DP World Pavilion, EXPO 2020 Dubai. Victor Besa / The National
  • Prince William, centre, visits Jebel Ali Port in Dubai. AFP
    Prince William, centre, visits Jebel Ali Port in Dubai. AFP
  • Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, chairman and chief executive of DP World, speaks to the prince about work to tackle the illegal wildlife trade. Getty
    Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, chairman and chief executive of DP World, speaks to the prince about work to tackle the illegal wildlife trade. Getty
  • The duke’s visit to the port is part of a busy tour of the UAE. Getty
    The duke’s visit to the port is part of a busy tour of the UAE. Getty
  • Prince William's visit will build on the strong bond between the UK and the UAE. Getty
    Prince William's visit will build on the strong bond between the UK and the UAE. Getty
  • The duke travelled from Abu Dhabi to Dubai to visit one of the world’s busiest ports. John Dennehy / The National
    The duke travelled from Abu Dhabi to Dubai to visit one of the world’s busiest ports. John Dennehy / The National
  • Prince William sees how goods are monitored in and out of the port. John Dennehy / The National
    Prince William sees how goods are monitored in and out of the port. John Dennehy / The National
  • Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, member of Abu Dhabi Executive Council and chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Office, visits Jubail Mangrove Park with the prince. Photo: Abu Dhabi Media Office
    Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, member of Abu Dhabi Executive Council and chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Office, visits Jubail Mangrove Park with the prince. Photo: Abu Dhabi Media Office
  • Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed and Prince William at the mangrove park in Abu Dhabi. Photo: Abu Dhabi Media Office
    Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed and Prince William at the mangrove park in Abu Dhabi. Photo: Abu Dhabi Media Office
  • Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed with Prince William. Photo: Abu Dhabi Media Office
    Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed with Prince William. Photo: Abu Dhabi Media Office
  • Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed with Prince William and pupils at Jubail Mangrove Park. Photo: Abu Dhabi Media Office
    Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed with Prince William and pupils at Jubail Mangrove Park. Photo: Abu Dhabi Media Office
  • The prince and companies in the UAE are working together to protect flora and fauna. Victor Besa / The National
    The prince and companies in the UAE are working together to protect flora and fauna. Victor Besa / The National
  • Children tend to seedlings after meeting Prince William. Victor Besa / The National
    Children tend to seedlings after meeting Prince William. Victor Besa / The National
  • The seedlings were planted at Jubail Mangrove Park in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
    The seedlings were planted at Jubail Mangrove Park in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
  • Lilly-Rose Mayall and Amaan Haider of the British School Al Khubairat plant mangrove seedlings. Victor Besa / The National
    Lilly-Rose Mayall and Amaan Haider of the British School Al Khubairat plant mangrove seedlings. Victor Besa / The National
  • The view from Prince William's plane as he arrives in Dubai. Photo: Kensington Royal
    The view from Prince William's plane as he arrives in Dubai. Photo: Kensington Royal
  • Prince William during a visit to Edinburgh, Scotland, last year. The Duke of Cambridge is visiting the UAE for his first official trip to the Emirates. Getty
    Prince William during a visit to Edinburgh, Scotland, last year. The Duke of Cambridge is visiting the UAE for his first official trip to the Emirates. Getty
  • Pupils at Victory Heights Primary school thought of some burning questions for Prince William before his visit to Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National
    Pupils at Victory Heights Primary school thought of some burning questions for Prince William before his visit to Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • Prince William visited Expo 2020 Dubai. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai
    Prince William visited Expo 2020 Dubai. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai

DP World, along with Emirates and Etihad, is a major contributor to the duke's United for Wildlife campaign to tackle a global criminal animal trafficking trade worth $150 billion.

Jebel Ali Port itself has become the busiest in the Middle East and one of the biggest in the world. It is the largest manmade deep-water harbour in the world. Jebel Ali has weathered regional instability and economic uncertainty and proved those early critics wrong.

Jebel Ali's four terminals can accommodate the world's largest ships and is a conduit for cargo travelling to Asia, Africa and Europe. It is the engine of Dubai.

The statistics speak for themselves: the cargo terminal area encompasses 1.4 million square metres with dozens of berths and automated cranes.

And terminal one – one of the port's busiest and the foundation on which it built its success – has 15 berths and 51 quay cranes.

The Jebel Ali Free Zone that was established beside the port has also taken Dubai to new economic highs.

More than 8,000 companies from more than 100 countries are based there, according to the free zone. It sustains about 135,000 jobs and attracts about 23 per cent of Dubai’s foreign direct investment.

Not only has the port helped to build Dubai's economy, it has also assisted in growing the city right to the border with Abu Dhabi.

The once remote Jebel Ali and the new Dubai South neighbourhood have become the future of Dubai. It is home to Al Maktoum Airport, the Expo 2020 site, new hotels and residential areas.

The port is a vital part of the logistical effort to make Expo 2020 a reality.

And Dubai is still looking to the future. The UAE's new railway – Etihad Rail – will link up to the port and further cement the reputation of Jebel Ali as one of the most connected, efficient and modern ports in the world.

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MATCH DETAILS

Barcelona 0

Slavia Prague 0

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

 

IF YOU GO
 
The flights: FlyDubai offers direct flights to Catania Airport from Dubai International Terminal 2 daily with return fares starting from Dh1,895.
 
The details: Access to the 2,900-metre elevation point at Mount Etna by cable car and 4x4 transport vehicle cost around €57.50 (Dh248) per adult. Entry into Teatro Greco costs €10 (Dh43). For more go to www.visitsicily.info

 Where to stay: Hilton Giardini Naxos offers beachfront access and accessible to Taormina and Mount Etna. Rooms start from around €130 (Dh561) per night, including taxes.

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Napoleon
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UAE v Gibraltar

What: International friendly

When: 7pm kick off

Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City

Admission: Free

Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page

UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)

Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

Desert Warrior

Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley

Director: Rupert Wyatt

Rating: 3/5

RIDE%20ON
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Larry%20Yang%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStars%3A%20Jackie%20Chan%2C%20Liu%20Haocun%2C%20Kevin%20Guo%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%202%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

Starring: Jamie Foxx, Angela Bassett, Tina Fey

Directed by: Pete Doctor

Rating: 4 stars

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Torbal Rayeh Wa Jayeh
Starring: Ali El Ghoureir, Khalil El Roumeithy, Mostafa Abo Seria
Stars: 3

House-hunting

Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove

  1. Edinburgh, Scotland 
  2. Westminster, London 
  3. Camden, London 
  4. Glasgow, Scotland 
  5. Islington, London 
  6. Kensington and Chelsea, London 
  7. Highlands, Scotland 
  8. Argyll and Bute, Scotland 
  9. Fife, Scotland 
  10. Tower Hamlets, London 

 

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How tumultuous protests grew
  • A fuel tax protest by French drivers appealed to wider anti-government sentiment
  • Unlike previous French demonstrations there was no trade union or organised movement involved 
  • Demonstrators responded to online petitions and flooded squares to block traffic
  • At its height there were almost 300,000 on the streets in support
  • Named after the high visibility jackets that drivers must keep in cars 
  • Clashes soon turned violent as thousands fought with police at cordons
  • An estimated two dozen people lost eyes and many others were admitted to hospital 
THE%20SPECS
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Company%20Profile
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UK-EU trade at a glance

EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years

Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products

Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries

Smoother border management with use of e-gates

Cutting red tape on import and export of food

A MINECRAFT MOVIE

Director: Jared Hess

Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa

Rating: 3/5

Updated: February 10, 2022, 12:28 PM