In 1971 Bahrain was the major Sea Port for the Gulf
Its Mina Sulman was a six berth Port able to handle ocean going ships
Cargoes came into Mina Sulman then shipped by dhow to other Gulf Ports
Dubai was its rival but lacked a deep water Port
When Port Rashid opened, Mina Sulman's importance as a Gulf Port declined
Mine Sulman Bahrain
Port Rashid opened unofficially in 1970 and began cargo operations
HH Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, then Ruler of Dubai, officially opened Port Rashid in 1972
Gray Mackenzie and Co (then part of UK's Inchcape Group) was appointed by HH Sheikh Rashid to manage Port Rashid
Gray Mackenzie then established a separate company - Dubai Port Services - to manage Port Rashid
Dubai Port Services operated on a profit sharing basis with HH Sheikh Rashid taking 40% of profits
That arrangement continued until HH Sheikh Rashid was taken ill
Thereafter HH Sheikh Mohammed negotiated a new arrangement with Gray Mackenzie
Dubai Port Services ceased to exist and a new entity established by Gray Mackenzie - Port Rashid Authority
Port Rashid Authority became Port Operators paid according to cargo throughput and performance
Dubai Government controlled Port Rashid's finances and investment
That situation continued until 1990 when Dubai Government terminated both Port Rashid's and Jebel Ali Port's external management contracts
Dubai Ports Authority was established by Dubai Government to operate both Port Rashid and Jebel Ali Port
Dubai Government controlled finance and investment for both ports but this became unworkable
Dubai Ports Authority subsequently became responsible for all aspects of the ports operations
Later DPA became the Ports Customs and Free Zone Corporation later corporatised to become DP World.
