Dubai founded under the Al Maktoum dynasty

Background. Dubai was established as a settlement by the Al Bu Falasah tribe, part of the Bani Yas confederation. Prior to 1833, the town was ruled on behalf of Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Tahnun bin Shakhbut. The migration was driven by tribal feuds, leading to the secession from Abu Dhabi and the takeover of Dubai from the Abu Falasa clan without resistance.

Dynastic Founding. Maktoum bin Butti and Obeid bin Said bin Rashid were joint founders and leaders. Obeid died in 1836, leaving Maktoum as the sole ruler and founder of the Al Maktoum dynasty. The legacy row's assertion of independence is incorrect; Dubai remained a dependent of Abu Dhabi and later a British protectorate under treaty agreements, not an independent state in 1833.

Treaty Context. Dubai had signed the General Maritime Treaty of 1820 with the British, following the campaign against Ras Al Khaimah. This treaty aimed to suppress piracy and marked the first denunciation of the slave trade in Emirati history. The 1833 migration occurred within this existing treaty framework, which continued to govern relations with the British government.