This National Day, explore the UAE's progress in 20 pictures

Today, the UAE marks its 48th National Day with huge celebrations fit for a country that defines modernization and advancement. 

Over the past decades, unprecedented accomplishments have transformed the Gulf nation into a global city that's now known for being a major hub for business and futuristic endeavors. 

Here's a walk through the country in 20 images that capture its rise to the top: 

Up until the early 1960s, Dubai and several other UAE cities consisted of small clusters of settlements built near creeks. 

There were some major advancements happening in the early years after 1960 but the process of modernizing the UAE officially began a few years later. 

In the mid-1960s, Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum started building Dubai's settlements into a city; a process that has continued ever since. 

By the 1970s, the transformation of Dubai's Creek and its evolution as a city had become evident. 

Abu Dhabi was following right in Dubai's footsteps at the time. 

The 70s and 80s marked a period of continuous construction and urban planning that eventually led to the rise of the UAE's cities in the 90s. 

Roads and highways were slowly beginning to increase in number. 

The rise of Burj Al Arab marked a new era of grant construction and architectural ventures in the UAE. 

This was a time when the country's iconic route consisted of four lanes and was rarely packed with traffic, a stark comparison to how things are today. 

Moving into the 2000s saw the largest expansion in the country's bid to modernize its emirates. 

With that came the rise of skyscrapers and high-rise buildings that now populate the country. 

In 2009, Dubai's public transportation system welcomed the launch of the emirate's metro. In the 10 years since it began to operate, it has proved to be one of the most efficient and advanced in the region. 

A new decade always means a new set of advancements and accomplishments in the UAE. New museums, more buildings, larger roads, and remarkable landmarks are always being developed. 

A major tourist attraction and a symbol of how far Dubai has come. 

An ever-expanding global hub for people from around the world, the UAE and more specifically Dubai have become synonymous with transformation. 

Over the past few years, it built up an incredible business district and an internet city that are both successfully supporting entrepreneurs from all around the world. 

The country has also been advancing ahead of its regional counterparts when it comes to Artificial Intelligence and technology, introducing driverless taxis and cars, and focusing on the digital revolution. 

The country is now home to tens of historic landmarks that have been built within the last 20 years. 

These include the iconic Sheikh Zayed Mosque which annually attracts millions of visitors. 

Currently, the UAE has its eyes set on space and saw the launch of its first astronaut, Hazza Al Mansouri, into space earlier this year. 

In 2014, the country officially established a Space Agency and set an ambitious goal of launching a probe to Mars. Two years later, the Gulf state and NASA signed a deal to work together to reach the Red Planet. 

In 2016, the country set up the Emirates Mars Mission which plans to send an unmanned spacecraft to explore Mars in 2020. The journey is expected to take seven months. 

One year later, the UAE announced its plans to build the first-ever city on Mars ... in about 100 years. The Mars 2117 project is part of a 100-year national program that focuses on spearheading scientific breakthroughs like the renowned Mars Mission.

The UAE continues to build landmarks that have become tourist hotspots and these include its latest one, Dubai Frame. 

This sums up the UAE, a country that never stops building, developing, and working towards the future.