In the past, the merchandise reaching Dubai town were to be deported from the vessels to the traditional canoes, then transported to Khor Dubai to be unloaded on the old ordinary paves. On October 1969 His Highness Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed AI Maktoum approved the plans for a new Port at Dubai with four anchorages which shortly increased to 15 anchorages which enabled fast and safe unloading and handling.  

On the 5th of October 1972, His Highness Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed AI Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the U.A.E. and the Ruler of Dubai, opened Port Rashid after some anchorages has been accomplished in 1970.

By the mid of 1975, the handling traffic at Port Rashid exceeded five million tons per annum. For the second time a decision was taken for the expansion of the Port by another 15 anchorages plus containers terminal which commenced operation in April 1980 and thus doubled the capacity of the Port. The total length of the anchorages is 10,000 meters plus an open storage area of more than one million square meters. Also, a roofed storage area is available with 16 transit stores, six loading containers stations with a total area of 158,400 square meters of safe and tax free storage. 

Since the establishment of the Port, more than 87 million tons has been handled and in 1987 a significant record of 8,661,472 tons was achieved together with a new record of 523,145 containers in the Gulf area. 

The Port breakwater surround about 14 million square meters of water and the 36 anchorages can receive any of the modern containers carriers, livestock and cars carriers.