The leaders of the Khaleej have put a strong emphasis on developing for the future. From futuristic transportation technologies, to modern architectural wonders and even plans to build a city on Mars, the GCC is at the cusp of rapid development. 

But, thinking of the future is nothing new in the region, and these plans are the continuation of decades of rapid development and expansion. 

Here's a look at how much Khaleeji countries have changed over the last 100 years. 

In the early 1900s, it was literally camels in the desert

Camel caravan of pilgrims to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, 1910.  

The discovery of oil led to an era of rapid development

King Abdulaziz and the U.S. Petrol Minister, laying the groundwork for the Saudi Arabian Oil Company (ARAMCO), 1934.  

Cities grew quickly

Shoppers strolling down King Saud Street in Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia, 1954. 

And new forms of transportation came to the region

Dubai International Airport was born in 1960.   

But traditional culture didn't fade away

Smoking shisha on an Emirati street, circa 1960s. 

From camels to automobiles ...

Street scene in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in the 1960s. 

Things have changed a lot, even in just a few decades

Al Ain Town Center, UAE, in the 1980s. 

Internationally recognized monuments rose into the skies

Burj Al Arab, Dubai, being built, 1990s. 

Khaleeji cities transformed into international hubs

Dubai traffic at night, 2010s. 

Khaleeji skylines became something to be admired

Kuwait City at dusk. 

But they remained tranquil homes as well

Beachside in Abu Dhabi. 

Tradition and modernity have meshed together

Two Emirati men.

But some things, like family bonds, never change

A Saudi family playing together.