 Despite a lack of oil , Dubai 's ruler from 1948 , Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum , used revenue from trading activities to build infrastructure . Electricity , telephone services , and an airport were established in Dubai in the 1950s and , in 1959 , the emirate 's first hotel , the Airlines Hotel , was constructed . This was followed by the Ambassador and Carlton Hotel in 1968 . 
