Dubai Water Canal
Dubai Water Canal
Dubai, UAE
The Dubai Water Canal Project connects Dubai’s rich history to its vibrant future, linking the Business Bay to the Arabian Gulf through an extensive mixed-use waterfront development with three spectacular pedestrian bridges that promote walkability and offer breathtaking city views.
Client Meydan Group, Roads and Transportation Authority of Dubai, Meraas Development
Project Size 17.4 mil sqft | 1.6 mil sqm, 1.8 mile long
Status Completed
Services Architecture, development management, economic strategy, engineering, landscape architecture, master planning, pre-development studies, project management, sustainable design
Awards 2017 AIA Pittsburgh Regional + Urban Design, Certificate of Merit.
1.9 mil sqft
GFA
8,400
residential units
39k
population
39 %
open space
Master plan top view

The Dubai Creek historically divided Dubai into two sections: Deira and Bur Dubai. Dubai Water Canal joined these sections with a 1.8 mile long 400-acre waterfront destination and three striking pedestrian bridges, designed to reflect the city’s past, present, and future. The first bridge—conjuring the past—is Safa Bridge, a suspension bridge with Y-shaped piers inspired by the region’s Bedouin nomadic tents and the Dhow, a traditional Arab sailing vessel. The second bridge—expressing the present—is the Bridge of Tolerance, the first clear span suspension bridge in the Middle East. The bridge’s curvature is supported by cables to evoke a sense of weightlessness. This bridge was named by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who stated, “Bridges connect people, cultures and hearts.” The last bridge—signaling the future—is the Jumeirah 2 Bridge, which features a kaleidoscopic twisting truss design that envisions a dynamic Dubai of tomorrow. The Canal Project brings together parks, residential buildings, shopping, and boardwalks while allowing pedestrians complete autonomy from vehicular traffic, creating a truly unique experience that celebrates Dubai’s progress as a city.

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