It was around Christmas time and pleasant weather in December, when we visited this new development in Dubai - the Dubai Water Canal project.
This Dh 2.7 billion project was started in Oct 2013 and finally, it opened in November 2016. It has indeed transformed the way Dubai looks, not because it has added impressive buildings or skyscrapers but because it has added a waterway that acts a catalyst to enrich our urban experience. I think every city should have a balance between nature and the built fabric, and when we add elements such as parks and gardens, walkways and waterways, they naturally weave in the much-required breathing space to the urbanscape.
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| View of the Dubai Water Canal from a pedestrian bridge |
When we visited the canal, we couldn't find any parking place, not because the parking lot was full but because the parking facility had not been fully developed yet. We parked our car nearby on a dusty space designated as a parking spot and we found others had parked there as well. In fact, there are many such parking spots all along the canal.
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| The Parking Spot across the Dubai Water Canal |
We walked our way to the canal. The 7.0 m wide walkway (as mentioned in the papers) along the water canal was neatly developed with benches and trees at regular intervals. So while we walked along slowly, my daughter would run along to find the next bench and relax there. It was a weekend and we found the walkway full with people from all over Dubai, yet not crowded enough to spoil or disturb our leisure walk, thanks to the generous width of the walkway. We also heard music as we walked by the canal; speaker boxes were fitted all along the walkway amongst the benches and trees.
The 3.2 km long canal serves as an extension of the Dubai Creek terminating in the Arabian Gulf. The development project is still underway and plans to include 80,000 square m of public facilities and other leisure amenities...best things comes in small packages!
We were impressed with the three uniquely designed pedestrian bridges that ran across the water body. The RTA of Dubai has used smart lighting system all across the canal, the bridges, and the bridge fountain. The lights are controlled by smart apps…which does not come as a surprise for us since the infrastructure of Dubai is well developed and the Rulers of UAE leave no stone unturned when it comes to using the latest technology. Also, all the bridges are fitted with electric elevators and escalators on both sides. So, if you get exhausted as you walk along the bridge, you can take the elevator on your way down to the other side of the waterway.
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| The Bridges across the Water Canal |
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| View of the Burj Khalifa far away, as we take a walk |
As we walked along the waterway watching the lovely views of the city; we were pleased with the sight of the Burj Khalifa beyond and we were drawn towards the end where we could see pink lights - like lights at the end of a tunnel!
It turned out to be a water fountain which beautifully slid across like a curtain when an RTA Ferry would approach, to let it pass and then again you would see the water curtain all across the promenade.
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| The Water Fountain |
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| The Water Curtain sliding away to make way for a water boat |
We were impressed with the technology and the stunning city views from the waterfront. Best time to visit this place according to me is around sunset time when you get to see both the views; with and without the lights. If you have some couple of hours in hand, then the best thing to do around here is to take a water taxi and enjoy the stunning views as it moves along the water canal complemented by the pleasant weather during the winter time.
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