54 4.2 Circulating drivers of spatial transformation
4.2.1 Waterbody and Canals Dubai Canal is an artificial water canal, approximately 3 kilometrelong, 80m wide and 6m deep project starting from Business Bay emptying into the Persian Gulf Jumeirah (El Amrousi, 2018). It creates new public places and facilities for private marinas for boats and a trade centre at the entrance of the canal. This artificial canal aims to integrate buildings with nature, centre with the periphery, a local character with global forces and to create public spaces to bring people of different ethnicities, incomes, ages and abilities together. A 12 kilometre long and 6-15 meters wide promenade was added by the business bay allowing extra space for leisure activities like skating and walking. This waterway has been redirected from the old Dubai creek for creating a waterfront area inside the city’s centre. The canal has several bridges running across at various points and about 12 marine transit stations. Two bridges are built between Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Wasl roads. According to the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), the canal will offer new means of public transportation for one million Dubai residents and will become part of the mass transit network of Dubai (El Amrousi, 2018).
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Research | Case study: Downtown Dubai
Map of Blue infrastructure in Downtown Dubai (Source: Author, Mariette Robin)
