HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai officially unveiled the Dubai Canal on 9th November in a grand ceremony.
The Dh.2.7bn Dubai Water Canal, stretches 3.2kms, and is a tourist landmark development that crosses Business Bay to Safa Park, Al Wasl Road, Jumeirah Road and Jumeirah 2, and terminates at Arabian Gulf. The waterway is 6.4km in length, 6m in depth and 120m width, and includes cycling and jogging tracks.
The Director General and Chairman of RTA Board, Mattar Al Tayer, in his statement said that the Dubai Water Canal is one of the best and unique ideas by Sheikh Mohammed, and is a rare commercial and tourist showpiece, that adds a new style of living to Dubai City. He appreciated Sheikh Mohammed for his unique creative visionary ideas that define new concept for the happiness and welfare of people.
About five pedestrian bridges have been built, out of which, three cross the Dubai Water Canal, with unique aesthetic specifications to facilitate pedestrian movement. The first and second bridges are located between Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Wasl Roads, while the third is located in the area between Al Wasl and Jumeirah Roads, the RTA Chief said.
The dedicated footpaths, plazas and running tracks have been fitted with interactive screens and seating areas overlooking the canal. To fulfil the needs of the smart city, smart electric poles controllable with smart app have been used. Decorative and creative lighting and landscaping works have been provided on both sides of the Canal.
The new area is likely to draw more than 30million visitors per annum, and the marine transit services will also woo more tourists. Earlier, Sheikh Mohammed had directed to provide marine transport services along the Dubai Water Canal and Business Bay once the Canal opens, so as to link with the service in Dubai Creek and coastal areas in Dubai.
The Board of Executive Directors of RTA has approved a plan for operating marine transport services in nine new stations, for implementation of these directives during a meeting chaired by HE Mattar Al Tayer, the Director General and Chairman of Board of Executive Directors of RTA.
The service will begin on the day following the official opening of the Canal, and will have five stations along the Canal, including Sheikh Zayed Road, Safa Park, Al Wasl, Jumeirah, and Dubai Canal Stations. It will have four stations along the Business Bay – Dubai Design District, Al Wajeha Al Maeyah, Marasia and Business Bay stations, with total number of marine transport stations stopping at 42.
Al Tayer explained: “The service will be available on demand on board the Water Taxi from 10 am to 10pm in all new stations.
The Dubai Ferry will offer services across five stations – two at Dubai Water Canal, three at Business Bay. There will be new scheduled two-way daily services for Dubai Ferry from Al Jadaff Station, calling at Dubai Design District, Al Wajeha, Al Maeyah and Marasi stations in Business Bay, Sheikh Zayed Ro9ad and Dubai Canal Stations in Dubai Water Canal.
The services would begin at 10am, 12 noon and 5.30pm, with current line of Dubai Ferry shuttling between Al Ghubaiba station and Marina Mall Station, which would be modified to call the Dubai Canal Station.The Dubai Canal station will link Al Ghubaiba, Marina Mall, Business Bay and Al Jadaff.
Meanwhile, attention is being paid to link other transit modes like trains, buses and taxis, to offer smooth, safe service for commuters.
