Plain sailing on Dubai creek

Dubai: The creek has long been a vital trading link with the Gulf region and indeed the rest of the world. Fourteen kilometres long, it separates Bur Dubai on its south bank from Deira on the northern bank. It has recently been extended by ten kilometres as part of the Business Bay project.

The creek is actually a natural inlet of the Arabian Gulf, and is due to be further extended by 10km by 2010 as part of the Arabian Canal project.

Amid the chugging abras and modern new water taxis, hundreds of cargo vessels line the Deira bank, unloading, loading and waiting to dock.

In days gone by, cargo ships arrived in Dubai and anchored offshore, using barges to deliver their cargo to the creek side. Deliveries must go through Dubai customs via the Dubai Ports Authority and, once cleared, many are taken to the docking points near Deira's spice souq.

Deira's creek side is chock-a-block with goods from all over the world. The heady scent of spices being delivered for the nearby spice souq and the sweet smell of dried lemons from Somalia fill the air, in stark contrast to the faint smell of abra fuel.

The lapping waves of the creek form a relaxing backdrop to the heavy loads being delivered.

Everything imaginable seems to be delivered to the creek side, from white goods including refrigerators, washing machines and televisions, to electrical lights, furniture and rolls of textiles bound for the neighbouring Bur Dubai textile souq.

Floating beasts

The cargo vessels dwarf the creek's water taxi abras, which happily sit alongside the floating beasts.

Boat hands from the Gulf region, including Oman and Iran, unload the goods that are checked in by the receivers, waiting to take the next load out onto the Arabian Gulf waters. "We come from all over the world," one deck-hand jokes, "we bring the things to Dubai and take things out again on the water". The odd haggling conversation can be heard between boat crew and businessmen collecting the deliveries, while the men toil in the sunshine with their heavy loads.

Miles of boxes and the odd lone identifiable object can be found on the creek side: these incoming items sometimes remain on the banks for up to three weeks, awaiting collection. Goods from as far as Japan, Africa and South America make their way to Deira, fuelling Dubai's growing economy.

Building materials such as softwood from Chile are also brought to the banks, shipped in to aid the many construction projects that are changing the face of the emirate.