1962: Aerial view of Al Maktoum Bridge under construction in Dubai.

Gulf News Archives

1968: St Mary’s Catholic Church, Dubai. The church stands on land donated by Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, then Ruler of Dubai. It was inaugurated on April 7, 1967 by Sheikh Rashid.

Gulf News Archives

1970: A roundabout and buildings in Abu Dhabi.

WAM

1971: Al Fahidi Fort, one of the oldest structures in Dubai. Built in the late 1700s, it was used as the ruler’s headquarters until the end of the 1800s. Today, the fort houses the Dubai Museum.

Gulf News Archives

1972: A street in Deira, Dubai, lined with shops.

National Archives

1978: A view of Al Aweer area, located on the outskirts of Dubai.

WAM

1982: A view of Al Khan area in Sharjah.

Gulf News Archives

1984: Hamdan Street, Abu Dhabi

Gulf News Archives

1971: An aerial view of Abu Dhabi when the UAE federation was formed.

1971: A view of Dubai International Airport.

1974: An Abu Dhabi community, with most of the dwellings (known as barasti) made out of palm fronds.

1978: Jamal Abdul Nasser Square in Deira, where the first cinema in Dubai was opened in 1954.

1979: The Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) building on Sheikh Zayed Road, the arterial highway that links Abu Dhabi and Dubai — two of the UAE's largest cities.

1979: Construction in progress at Abu Dhabi Corniche.

1979: Al Arooba Street in Sharjah.

1979: An aerial view of Dubai with Metropolitan Hotel at the centre. The hotel on Sheikh Zayed Road was one of Dubai's first hotels.

1980: Traffic on Al Ittihad Road that links Sharjah and Dubai.

1980: Abu Dhabi Corniche Project in progress.

1980: An aerial view of Sharjah-Dubai highway.

1981: A view of Al Wahda Street, Sharjah.

1981: Khalifa Street in Abu Dhabi.

1983: Dubai Creek situated at the heart of Dubai is where trade with the outside world began for the emirate more than a century ago.

1984: A lagoon in Sharjah with sailboats in the foreground and the Central Souq in the background.

1986: A view of Fujairah Trade Centre.

1987: The Ras Al Khaimah Corniche.

1989: Al Murabaa Watchtower on Ajman Beach Road.

1992: The Safa Park in Dubai, with the Metropolitan Hotel in the foreground.

1993: Construction in progress at the Defence Roundabout, on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai.

1996: An aerial view of Umm Al Quwain.

1996: The Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai, with the World Trade Centre building at right.

1996: Burj Al Arab hotel under construction. The work started in 1994 and it took two years to create the island, followed by another three years to build the hotel.

1997: The construction site of Emirates Towers on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai. Work began in 1996, and the towers opened in 2000.

2002: Construction in progress at the Dubai Marina.

2003: The Palm Jumeirah. Construction began on the world’s largest man-made island in 2001, and the first homes were handed over in 2006.

2006: Construction of the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest man-made structure, began in 2004. It was completed in 2009 and was opened in 2010 as part of a new development called Downtown Dubai.