Dubai: Dubai Water Canal, the 3.2km waterway that completes the extension of Dubai Creek from Al Shindagha to Jumeirah, was officially inaugurated by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Wednesday.
Shaikh Mohammad marked the opening by taking a boat ride from Shaikh Zayed Road marine station to Dubai Water Canal station, where the formal ceremony took place. He was accompanied by other shaikhs and senior officials.
What appeared like a distant dream until a few months ago has now become a reality as Dubai’s ancient trading hub turns up in a new avatar as Dubai Water Canal.
Though the announcement of the opening was made only on Tuesday, the areas surrounding the canal that links with Business Bay Canal, going all the way to Ras Al Khor, have been abuzz with excitement for the past week, anticipating the opening as the waterway received the finishing touches.
Cutting through Shaikh Zayed, Al Wasl and Jumeirah roads — all have been elevated near Al Safa Park — the canal gives Dubai a leisure destination with more than 80,000 square metres of development projects to come up along its banks.
Set to be the ‘new face of Dubai’, the canal is expected to bring in more than 30 million visitors per year.
Improving the connectivity of the city and reducing dependence on land transport, the canal, with its reach going all the way to Bur Dubai and Al Mamzar, is set to give a major boost to marine transport over the next few years.
The Roads and Transport Authority, with its plan to expand marine transit systems, is expecting one million marine transport users specifically in the canal.
By 2030, the number is expected to go up to four million, which is equivalent to getting 2.9 million vehicles off the roads.
Speaking to Gulf News following the opening on Wednesday, Saeed Humaid Al Tayer, chairman and CEO of Meydan Group, one of the master developers of the canal, said: “The Dubai Water Canal extends the historical heart of Dubai’s trading zone, the Dubai Creek, and reconnects the Arabian Gulf. It is an important milestone that will enhance the lives of visitors and residents.”
He added that the landmark project will create a fabric of social networks and family-oriented developments.
“The project will improve the overall connectivity of the city and stitches together the old and the new, further strengthening Dubai as a global centre for tourism, leisure and trade,” he said.
The project was jointly undertaken by Roads and Transport Authority, Meydan Group and Meraas Holding.
Speaking on the occasion, Group Chairman of Meraas Abdullah Al Habbai said: “The Dubai Water Canal is one of the most important tourism projects in the city; it will transform the landscape and features of the emirate which has established itself as a shining example for cities around the world, encouraging them to pursue innovation and creativity in their march towards the future.”
He added that the development of this project will provide the city with an urban, tourist and commercial destination that will make a positive contribution to Dubai’s ambitious social and economic objectives.
