There is little documentation on the web regarding the dubai dynasty

But I did found this article on-line, from a website called alloexpat.com - please click here for original location.

I do hope it's ok to publish this article here - if not, I will gladly remove it.

The arrival of the Portuguese in 1498 brought dire consequences to the region and by 1515, had occupied Julfar, Dibba, Bidiya, Khor Fakkan and Kalba. In strategic Julfar, a customs house was erected to tax the Gulf's flourishing trade with India and the Far East. The Portuguese were to remain in the region until 1633. By then, the British began to make their presence felt, exercising their naval superiority and prowess in the Gulf. However, at that point in time too, a local power, the Qawasim also decided to make their presence felt, much to the consternation of the British, and by the 19th century, had built up a fleet of 60 large vessels. Sensing a serious threat to their influence in the Gulf, the British launched 'corrective' raids against the Qawasim. In 1820, the British consolidated their influence in the Gulf by destroying and capturing Qawasim vessels. Based on devious claims that the Qawasim were involved in piracy, the British imposed a General Treaty of Peace on nine Arab sheikhdoms, resulted in the area being called 'The Trucial States'.

On the other hand, the Bedouin tribes in the interior had a less hazardous existence with the British. The British, naturally, were not particularly interested in what the Bedouins have been up to. Throughout the period when sea battles were fought, the Bani Yas tribe came to power. The Bani Yas was originally based in Liwa, but somehow decided to move to Abu Dhabi in 1793. One of the greatest figures of this period was, Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa of Abu Dhabi, who ruled the emirate of Abu Dhabi from 1855 to 1909, in the process carved himself into the history books by earning the title 'Zayed the Great'. For most part of the colonial period, Sharjah was the most populous and powerful among the emirates, only to be upstaged by Abu Dhabi towards the end of the 19th century, which in turn, was later overshadowed by Dubai. The British attitude towards the interior, however, changed with the prospect of 'black gold'.