Dreamt up by the late HH Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed, the Dubai Canal finally became a reality on the 9^th of November 2016. Culminating in the Arabian Gulf, the 3.2km long canal winds through Business Bay from the Creek, while cutting through the iconic Sheikh Zayed Road. The Dubai Canal is one of the city’s greatest accomplishment in terms of infrastructure. While also promoting tourism to the city, the canal stands as an incredibly beautiful testament to Dubai being a metropolis where dreams come true.

At the cost of 2.7 billion AED, the canal is one of Dubai’s most expensive face-lifts. Ranging from 80 to 120m in width, the canal hosts many iconic features that are sure to become notable landmarks in the near future. Spreading across 80,000 sqm with a 3km running track and a 12km cycling track, the canal is not short of space. The most prominent features that you cannot miss are the unbelievably complex, yet simple and artistic, foot bridges; 5 to be exact. One in particular, that has a walkway and a cycling track winding up and down it, has a giant arc that shines a magnificent blue at night making it impossible not to stop and take in the vistas. This footbridge was inspired by the Golden Gate bridge in San Francisco.

Further along the stream, we come across a sparkling waterfall emerging through the bridge where the canal cuts through Sheikh Zayed road.

Working from 8 am to 10 pm every day, the waterfall is mechanical and splits open like a set of theatre curtains to let boats pass through underneath. It is also lit up at night making it a prime photography spot.

At this point you might want to pull out your phone to click a few pictures for your social media; but regrettably, the phone seems to be out of charge.

Not to worry though;

the entire canal is lined with charging stations, pulling energy from the solar powered lamps.

The Dubai Canal can be accessed from many different locations; the most popular ones are from beside Safa Park, from W Hotel and from near Jumeirah Lake Towers. There are 1602 total parking lots around the canal so wherever you end up, parking will not be an issue.

If you don’t own a car or road based public transport is not your cup of tea, then you could take the RTA water taxi that docks regularly inside the canal.

There are five stations along the canal and four in Business Bay connecting  Bur Dubai, Deira, Oud Metha, Zabeel, Karama, Satwa and parts of Jumeirah and Al Safa, totaling nine water taxi stops all around the vicinity.

The Dubai Water canal; an outstanding achievement, for a city and its citizens that not long ago looked across the city and saw nothing but sand. But that’s Dubai. We don’t see sand,we see possibilities; and under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, these possibilities are indubitably being realized.