Dubai: Abdul Rahman Kalantar, Managing Director of Design and Planning, Nakheel makes the call to the Seaway, a Boskalis trailer suction hopper dredger vessel, to initiate the reclamation of Mina Rashid on Tuesday.

Representatives from Joint Venture Dredging International - Boskalis Westminster Middle East, who are responsible for the land reclamation, were also present.

The works include the construction of a breakwater and shore protection in a contract worth Dh2.2 billion. A total of approximately 86 million metres cubed of sand will be dredged reclaiming 540 hectares of new land.

The redevelopment of Mina Rashid will build on the culture and heritage of the original port and will be a tribute to the memory of His Highness Shaikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the father of modern-day Dubai.

The project will provide a balance of residential, office and commercial development within an urban waterfront environment.

It will have 17.5 kilometers of waterfront promenade and the projected population will be 225,000 people.

Mina Rashid will have a host of public transport options including an internal mass transit and water taxi system that will provide links to the Dubai Metro, Dubai Maritime City and Palm Deira.