Emerging as an enterprising trader in textiles and commodities between markets in the Middle East, Al Gaz entered the historic Switzerland-Dubai-India gold trade in the 1950s after recruiting and partnering with his then-grocer and friend, Juma Al Majid. Partnerships such as those between the brothers Saif Ahmad Al Ghurair Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed assumed formal rule in 1958. This was followed by a period of growth and stability, which particularly contrasted to the difficulties Sheikh Rashid's predecessor, Sheikh Saeed bin Maktoum, experienced in the 1930s with the pearl merchants who dominated Dubai's then pearl-based, fishing trade, and caused the Rebellion of 1938.[3]