4.2 CirCulaTinG drivers of spaTial TransformaTion

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).

0 0.75km 1.5km Map of Blue infrastructure in Downtown Dubai (Source: Author, Mariette Robin)

4.2.2 Towers and skyscrapers

It almost became necessary to brand an upcoming city in the 21st century. The skyscrapers are what each city is known for, be it Burj Khalifa in Dubai, Petronas towers in Kuala Lumpur, or the Gherkin in London U.K.

Burj Khalifa, the tallest tower building in the world, stands tall, elegant, proud and glistening in the middle of the desert with a sandstorm just on the horizon. Dubai sees its audacious building as a metaphor for its role in the vanguard of globalisation, as a technocracy capable of yoking Islam and modernity. Burj Khalifa is visible from as far as 96.6 kilometers away. It houses businesses and residential apartments as well as the exclusive Armani Hotel.

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Map of Skyscrapers in Downtown Dubai (Source: Author, Mariette Robin) Skyscrapers details in Downtown Dubai (Source: skyscrapers. com)

Min. height of skyscrapers: 200m Max. height of skyscrapers: 830 m

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Just like how the Eiffel tower evokes the idea of Paris and the Statue of Liberty speaks for New York, Burj Khalifa has become the symbol of Dubai. Along with being the visual image for the city, this icon has induced a ripple effect in the real estate market in its vicinity. This branding was necessary to market the city on a global platform and to attract international investments. Dubai Downtown and Business Bay feature numerous skyscrapers which accommodate residential, commercial activities and business clusters. These towers are set in landscaped gardens with a network of roads, pathways and canals. However, it lacks a good network of public transport considering the huge area of land it covers. It is envisaged to become this region’s business capital but also a freehold city within a city.

4.2.3 Shopping malls

Dubai Mall is an exceptionally vast retail, leisure and entertainment space right in the heart of downtown Dubai. It’s the world’s largest and most visited shopping mall, with a total internal floor area of 5.9 million square feet. The Dubai Mall is revolutionizing the modern shopping experience in the UAE. With an impressive array of leisure pursuits, The Dubai Mall is the ultimate, cutting-edge shopping experience. A range of adventure sports vies for attention alongside the romance of ice skating (Official website of Dubai shopping mall).

0 0.75km 1.5km Map of Shopping malls in Downtown Dubai (Source: Author, Mariette Robin)

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Aerial view of Burj Park (Source: Planetware)

Map of green Infrastructure in Downtown Dubai (Source: Author, Mariette Robin) 4.2.4 Parks, Gardens, and sanctuaries

In Dubai, however little attempt has been made to keep the green spaces public. The spaces open to the public have been oriented towards commercial activities. Even so, the land around what used to be considered the outskirts of Dubai was transformed from a home for illegal immigrants in the 1960s-70s to a lush green Safa park today. This is yet again a charged space and not available to all public. A park-like setting has been created at the foothill of Burj Khalifa. A terrace that steps down to a small oasis of fountains has been created to boost the microclimate of the area. There are a series of refreshing outdoor living rooms for the enjoyment of hotel guests, office workers and condominium owners. A grand terrace features a series of fountains that creates a subtle separation between the public promenade and the hotel entrance. This is adorned with a series of bands of lush indigenous desert plants in varying shades of green.

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4.2.5 Hotels

With the towering icon of Dubai housing the best hotel facilities including the exclusive Armani Hotel, it is surrounded by numerous luxury hotels. The Dubai mall is integrated with an inbuilt hotel called the Address hotel. Adjacent to the iconic Burj Khalifa, the built-in 2008 Dubai Mall is the largest shopping mall in the world by total land area. It’s a complete retail and entertainment destination with a variety of indoor attractions like the Dubai aquarium, underwater zoo, an olympic size ice rink, cinemas, numerous luxury shopping and dining experience. It covers about 502,000 sqm of retail floor area. The Dubai fountain right outside the structure is a major landmark for Dubai’s downtown. Dubai Mall is the best example of Retailtainment and strategic location in the success of retail establishments. To increase shopping tourism and attract consumers, the hotel industry has recognized the significance of the integration of malls and hotels. The Address Dubai mall is one of the prominent examples attracting tourists who base their vacation on shopping and luxury accommodation. Shopping in Dubai mall is more than retail therapy, it is considered as having an unusual sightseeing, cultural, and amusing experience full of surprises (Zaidan, 2015).

0 0.75km 1.5km Map of Hotels in Downtown Dubai (Source: Author, Mariette Robin)