A few years ago, many frequent flyers traveling on westbound flights from Australian airports noticed that whenever they would log on to Australia’s travel websites, they would see advertisements of a newly-established foreign airline offering cheaper fares and claiming to offer better service.

So most travelers using Australian websites would book the flights of an airline based in the United Arab Emirates i.e. Emirates. However, that problem has been solved with Australian national carrier Qantas joining hands with Emirates in forming an alliance. It’s true: If you can’t beat them, join them.

That was perhaps not enough for the new airline. Observers may also recall reports about the fierce competition between Canadian aviation establishments and Emirates over landing rights on Canadian airports. Had it been provided with more landing routes, it would have conveniently beaten Canadian airlines in their own airspace. The UAE has another thriving airline, Etihad Airways, which does not only fly to various global destinations but has recently acquired 49 percent of the total shares of Italy’s national airline, Alitalia. In other words, the UAE is open to the world and is currently dominating the skies. When you dominate the skies, you are seen all over the world. You must be wondering as to why I started this article by highlighting the success of the UAE’s aviation industry. The main reason is the short span within which the UAE has achieved this marvel. What was the United Arab Emirates around 43 years ago?

Despite its strategic location, the UAE back in 1971 was almost isolated from the rest of the world. With its shoreline stretching hundreds of miles, it had very primitive ports and virtually no roads connecting it to the neighboring countries. Just a few decades ago, going to or leaving the UAE was one of the most difficult things for any traveler. They had a dusty runway for the whole country that handled an average of one flight per week. But now they have the most modern and busiest airports in the world and seaports and ports facilities so huge and modern it almost won the contract for handling the operations of one of the busiest American ports. The most unique thing about the UAE is that it transformed itself from the most isolated country in the world to one of the most developed countries in the world. Hundreds of events are held every week and Formula One is held once a year. The UAE has become a melting pot of different cultures. Mind you, majority of the people are not Emiratis. And just a week ago, the United Arab Emirates celebrated its 43rd National Day. Being founded only four decades ago, it is one of the youngest countries in the world. In other words, when the Americans sent a man on the moon in 1969, the UAE was two years away from coming into being. And in 1971 any small town in the US had more banks, schools, students’ enrollment, doctors, engineers, water resources, gas pumps and roads than the entire United Arab Emirates. The total area of the UAE is equivalent to the size of South Carolina (a little over 32,000 square miles) with a population of about 9 million people.

It was formed in 1971 when it gained full independence from the British rule. Interestingly, the British initiated the talk of its independence in the mid 1960s when it had become clear that the British government was not interested to bear the burden of being in the area and administer what is now the UAE. The then UK Secretary of State for Defense, Denis Winston Healey, reported that the British Navy was overstretched. The report was supported by then British Prime Minister Harold Wilson and later on reaffirmed by British Minister Edward Heath to end the protection treaty. It was followed by the creation of a union between seven emirates. The ruler of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan, became the president of the union, which consists of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ajman, Fujairah, Sharjah, Umm Al-Quwain and Ras Al-Khaimah. And the current president is Sheikh Khalifah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan. The UAE is a modern-wday miracle. In just 43 years, the UAE has the highest per capita income. Its people enjoy free education at all levels, free health care and no income tax.