 Critically , one of the first major projects Sheikh Rashid embarked upon when oil revenue started to flow was the construction of Port Rashid , a deep water free port constructed by British company Halcrow . Originally intended to be a four @-@ berth port , it was extended to sixteen berths as construction was ongoing . The project was an outstanding success , with shipping queuing to access the new facilities . The port was inaugurated on 5 October 1972 , although its berths were each pressed into use as soon as they had been built . Port Rashid was to be further expanded in 1975 to add a further 35 berths before the larger port of Jebel Ali was constructed . 
