“I want My People To Live Better Life Now”. African Leaders, Have You Heard?
An old interview of Emirates (Dubai) leader has surfaced on social media provoking Netzines in Africa to question their leaders.
In the 48 secs video, the Emirati leader is heard saying he wanted his people to live better lives now. He was responding to a question asked by the journalist why he was in such a hurry to uplift the standard of his region to surpass that of Europe.
After watching the brief video, many Africans have questioned why their leaders do not have the same vision for the people they rule.
One of the most amazing modern development tales is the Emirates’ (especially Dubai and Abu Dhabi) transition from little desert communities into major international centers of commerce and tourism. This is a summary of what transpired that totally uplifted the Emirates region.
In the 1960’s:
- Dubai was a modest trading port, while Abu Dhabi was a sparsely populated desert region.
- Life was harsh, with limited infrastructure, no electricity, and dependence on trade and fishing.
After the discovery of oil in 1958, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (Abu Dhabi) and Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum (Dubai) led early modernization efforts.
After 1960 and discovery of oil:
- 1985 – Emirates Airlines launched, turning Dubai into a global aviation hub
- 1999 – Burj Al Arab (world’s first 7-star hotel) put Dubai on the tourism map.
- 2000s – Mega-projects like Palm Jumeirah, Burj Khalifa (2010), and Dubai Mall redefined urban luxury.
