Dubai Municipality recently organised an exhibition entitled ‘Dubai Customs in the Documents of Bashi Porter’ in the historical district of Shindagha, which contains the documents of Dubai Customs Department in the early 20th century.
The exhibition, organised in line with the strategy of Dubai Municipality to work on the preservation of urban heritage and monuments, will last for a year.
The importance of these documents lies in the fact that they are important reference to the commercial movement and economic boom witnessed by the Emirate of Dubai and highlights the stages of its development until the late Sheikh Saeed Bin Maktoum Al Maktoum, who was in power during 1912-1958.
The documents date back to the Customs Department decrees, in addition to details of the types of goods received and exported to the ports of the Arabian Gulf, the Indian subcontinent, and East Africa. The exhibits include pictures of account books that reveal the types and prices of trading during that time. They also include stamps of Sheikh Saeed and the letters and orders issued to Customs officials, plus a collection of unique images.
