An early mention of Dubai

The area was covered with sand about 5,000 years ago as the coast retreated inland, becoming part of the city’s present coastline.[25] Pre-Islamic cer

amics have been found from the 3rd and 4th centuries.[26] Prior to the introduction of Islam to the area, the people in this region worshiped Bajir (or Bajar).[26] After the spread of Islam in the region, the Umayyad Caliph of the eastern Islamic world invaded south-east Arabia and drove out the Sassanians. Excavations by the Dubai Museum in the region of Al-Jumayra (Jumeirah) found several artefacts from the Umayyad period.[27]

An early mention of Dubai is in 1095 in the Book of Geography by the Andalusian-Arab geographer Abu Abdullah al-Bakri.[citation needed] The Venetian pearl merchant Gasparo Balbi visited the area in 1580 and mentioned Dubai (Dibei) for its pearling industry.[27]