Dubai weighs ambitious canal, Deira Souk projects

Thursday, Dec 20, 2012

Two major projects totalling Dh4.5 billion unveiled publicly yesterday call for a major Dh3 billion facelift for Deira Souk area as well as a Dh1.5 billion suspended canal to link Dubai Creek extension to the Gulf through Jumeirah.

The ambitious plans were announced on the website of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai who viewed a series of architectural renderings yesterday.

On his official website, Shaikh Mohammad posted a video exhibiting aspects of the Dubai Souk makeover including a massive new skyscraper at the bend in Dubai Creek towering over Dubai’s historical heritage areas.

The Deira Creek project calls for six hotels, residential and trade towers, a yachting marina and cargo storage areas.

It was stated that the new raised canal would extend from from the “Khaleej Trading Centre to Jumairah Beach in Dubai, going through Shaikh Zayed road, Al Safa Garden, Al Wasil street over two kilometres long with a cost of over Dh 1.5 billion.”

Shaikh Mohammad also commended the “ suspended channel’s idea as a substitute to the former ground channel....”

By Derek Baldwin Chief Reporter and Zaher Bitar Senior Reporter