Dubai and Abu Dhabi have been wealthy smuggling ports since the invention of boats.

The player behind Dubai Ports World, UAE President and Emir of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahayan, is the son of the founder of Bank of Commrce and Credit International (BCCI), which expedited the heroin shipments, and return money flows, of the US first Afghan War in the '80s. the Kerry Committee BCCI report issued in 1992.