Jebel Ali
Jebel Ali is a port town 35 kilometers (22 mi) south-west of Dubai. The Jebel Ali Port is located there. Al Maktoum International Airport has been constructed just outside the port area.
Jebel Ali is connected to Dubai via the UAE Exchange (formerly Jebel Ali), Danube (formerly Jebel Ali Industrial) and Energy stations on the Dubai Metro. Among the infrastructure projects built to support the port and town is the world’s largest desalination plant, the Jebel Ali Desalination Plant (Phase 2), providing an ample supply of freshwater.
History of Jebel Ali
Many Arab historians propose that Jebel Ali, which translates to “Ali’s Mountain” in Arabic, derives its name from Ali, the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad. According to this theory, it is believed that Ali stood on a hill in the area, gazing towards the sea, although there is no recorded proof to support this claim. In Arabic, “Jebel” signifies mountain or hill.
In 1968, Overseas AST commenced the construction of Dubai’s inaugural Communications Station in the Jebel Ali vicinity due to its elevated terrain. This station was operationalized in 1970, marking the first telecommunication links between Dubai and the rest of the world. During the 1970s, Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum envisioned the development of Jebel Ali into an industrial hub complete with its own airport, port, and township.
Tragically, on September 23, 1983, Gulf Air Flight 771 crashed in Jebel Ali, resulting in the loss of all 112 individuals on board. The crash was attributed to a terrorist bomb planted on the aircraft by the Abu Nidal Organization.
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