Each Emirate differed from the other by its relative dependence on special economic resources.

In 1957, another stage of economic development started. It was the beginning of the era of oil production and export in Abu Dhabi . Dubai followed suit in 1969, and then Sharjah. This stage witnessed the increasing importance of the oil sector thanks to the huge amount of revenue it provided in comparison with other sources of the national income. This rendered the traditional economic activities to become less important, particularly the sector of pearl fishing. Since then oil and its related industries have become the backbone of the UAE Economy.