.png "Interview With Expat Saanika Gandhi, Author of Children's Book 'The Yellow Kite'")
The long-awaited Dubai Water Canal has finally been opened... Did you catch the show yourself? Find out what happened!
10 November 2016
| Last updated on 25 May 2017
Watch the Dubai Water Canal's Grand Opening
The long-awaited Dubai Water Canal has finally been opened... Did you catch the show yourself? Find out what happened!
In true-form, Dubai put on a dazzling show of laser lights, water-borne acrobatics and even fireworks to celebrate the official opening of the long-awaited Dubai Water Canal, inaugurated by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
The opening comes a few weeks after water was first released into the Dubai Canal, pictured here, and the jaw-dropping waterfall along Sheikh Zayed Road began to flow.
Accompanied by the Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan and Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Maktoum, HH Sheikh Mohammed marked the occassion with a boat ride from Jumeirah Bay Island towards the Dubai Water Canal, followed by a flotilla of ferries and abras boarded by officials and engineers who have worked on the AED 2.7 billion project.
SEE ALSO: Incredible pictures of Dubai Water Canal from space
The official opening of the Dubai Water Canal marks the extension of Dubai Creek from Ras Al Khor via Business Bay right to the Arabian Gulf, making areas like Habtoor City, Bur Dubai and Downtown Dubai into a huge Manhattan-like island.
Here's the view of the ceremony fun from Sheikh Hamdan himself:
Sheikh Hamdan with his father, HH Sheikh Mohammed among others at the celebration of the Dubai Water Canal opening:
Here's some Instagram pictures from on-lookers watching the ceremony who live in the area. As you can see, the vast Sheikh Zayed Road was shut off, and motorists were forewarned before completing their journey home on the day.
Check out those fireworks!
What is the Dubai Water Canal?
The Dubai Water Canal project is an extension of Deira Creek, linking the area of Business Bay to the Arabian Gulf. Unveiled in October 2013, the project has been underway for over three years and flows through Safa Park and Jumeirah.
The canal itself is three-kilometres in length, and the entire project also includes a new shopping mall - with a park on the roof, might we add - four hotels, 450 restaurants, luxury housing, walkways and cycle paths to enjoy. The new area will measure up to 80,000 square metres, leaving space for public places and facilities, as well as private marinas for boats and a new trade centre at the entrance of the canal... Which all sounds very fancy!
And. That's. Not. All. Seriously! There's also plans to extend Jumeirah's beach, once again changing Dubai's shoreline... Which we're sure will be a fantastic spot to bask in the desert sun, and will no doubt be a huge hit during the cooler months in the emirate.
Here's a selection of images that show the projected final results:
.png?itok=EH_x0Pha "Experience Extended Stays and Special Savings at Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort UAE")
