Route Canal

As Dubai gears up to host the World Expo 2020, the government has said that the Expo 2020 Master Plan remains on track with a target date for completion of all major construction activities on site by October 2019. It is expected that projects relating to World Expo 2020 will total over $5.5 billion in total investment in infrastructure-related projects with nearly 277,000 jobs being created. With the expectation that the event will draw more than 25 million visitors to the country, Dubai is aiming at ambitious and innovative ways to effectively manage visitor flow around the city. One such initiative is the Dubai Water Canal, unveiled in October 2013 by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). The Dubai Water Canal is an approximately $550 million initiative to connect Business Bay with the Arabian Gulf, passing through the heart of Dubai, and set for total completion by end of 2017.

The Dubai Water Canal construction project is to last approximately four years and is divided up into three total phases. Phase I of the contract, valued at around $157 million, was awarded to Turkish firms Mapa and Gunal. It includes the construction of a bridge on Sheikh Zayed Road comprising eight lanes in each direction.
Phase II of the contract was awarded to China State Construction and Engineering Corporation for an amount totaling just under $105 million. This part comprises construction of three-lane bridges on Jumeirah Beach Road and two lanes on Al Wasl roads. This will allow the passage of up to 8.5 meters in height to pass underneath the bridge. Importantly, Phase II will provide a link between Dubai Creek and the Arabian Gulf via a water canal passing across Sheikh Zayed Road, Al Safa Park, Jumeirah 2, and up to the Arabian Gulf near the southern part of the Jumeirah Creek Park. It also includes the construction of a free multi-tier interchange to link the traffic movement between Al Wasl, Al Hadiqa, and Al Athar Roads to ensure smooth traffic flow. This phase also includes the construction of bridges linking with the proposed peninsula to the south of the Jumeirah Park, shifting utility lines via conduits passing beneath the Canal, and providing spare ducts for services under the Canal to meet anticipated future needs.

Phase III has a contract value of just under $220 million. This contract was awarded to Belhasa Six Construct Company, a Belgium-based firm, which includes the construction of a water canal linking the Dubai Creek with the Arabian Gulf. Within the canal’s construction, a 3.2 km-long canal must be drilled and sides constructed for the canal, while three footbridges to link the two banks of the canal and four marine transit stations will be built. On top of that, filling works on an island will be carried out, and a sea wall around the island will be built to prepare a sand beach. A marina for boats and a waterbus will also be built, and finally three landmark pedestrian bridges will be constructed above the canal to link Jumeirah Beach Walk with Safa Park Walk.
Once completed, the waterway will stretch 3 km in length with a width ranging from 80 to 120m. The canal will add 6km to Dubai’s waterfront, while the project will provide an area of over 80,000sqm dedicated to public places. The project comprises new shopping and entertainment centers linked by a uniquely designed bridge, over 450 new restaurants with a wide array of luxurious marinas for yachts, and four world-class hotels. At the entrance of the project from Sheikh Zayed Road, an iconic trade center will be constructed on four levels, including one underground level and three elevated levels linking Business Bay with the project zone in a total area of more than 50,000sqm. Importantly, Dubai Water Canal will drive marine transit modes for visitors and citizens with the expectation of more than 6 million passengers per annum. The canal will also boost the profile of Dubai as a leading destination of sea cruises.