 Many theories have been proposed as to the origin of the word " Dubai " . One theory suggests the word was used to describe the souq , which was similar to the souq in Ba . Another theory states that the name came from a word meaning " money " , as people from Dubai were commonly believed to be rich due to the thriving trading center of the location . An Arabic proverb says " Daba Dubai " ( Arabic : <unk> <unk> ) , meaning " They came with a lot of money . " According to <unk> <unk> , a scholar on the UAE 's history and culture , the word Dubai may have come from the word <unk> ( Arabic : <unk> ) ( a past tense derivative of <unk> ( Arabic : <unk> ) , which means " to creep " ) , referring to the slow flow of Dubai Creek inland . The poet and scholar Ahmad Mohammad <unk> traces it to the same word , but to its alternative meaning of " baby locust " ( Arabic : <unk> ) due to the abundant nature of locusts in the area before settlement . 
