From
its earliest days, Dubai has been involved
in trading. For over six centuries, its creek
has provided a safe port of call for the
merchant vessels laden with foods from Dubai's
traditional trading partners in the Far East,
Indian subcontinent and Africa. In the past,
these goods were sold to the camel caravan
tribes in the vast desert hinterland. Today,
the city is a major re-export center and
the world comes to shop in Dubai. Dubai was
also one of the world's foremost pearling
centres. Pearls played an important role
in its commerce but by diversifying it was
able to absorb the shock waves caused by
the pearl culture industry that catapulted
Japan into prominence. However, Dubai's reputation
as a trading center for gold and other precious
metals continues right up to this day. Dubai
is the second largest of the seven Emirates.
