How Dubai Canal will transform Jumeirah

When diverting from Sheikh Zayed Road towards Arabian Sea into the community of Jumeirah 2, there is little that will tell this is to become one of the most attractive plots of land in the emirate. However, a look on the map showing where Dubai Canal will be laid shows otherwise.

Jumeirah 2 is the community that lies between Al Wasl Road and Jumeirah Beach Road opposite Jumeirah Beach Park. In 2017, this will be the ground for the 6km extension of Dubai Creek, and of more than 80,000 square meters of surrounding area equipped with many facilities that meet the requirements of visitors to the marine destination.

The quality of water and the density of structures in the area make Jumeirah the right location for the project, explained Road and Transport Authority (RTA).

“Environmental and marine studies that had been conducted since 2004 revealed the need to find solutions to improve the water quality in Dubai Creek. The selection of the location was based on those studies as well as the intension to minimise the number and areas of affected plots,” explained Maitha bin Adai, CEO of Traffic and Roads Agency (TRA) at RTA.

Indeed, with the canal partly drawn through Al Safa Park, the affected plot is minimised to the residential block of which some villas have already been removed years ago, when the project was initiated. With most of the land now empty for the creek to enter, the last remaining structures will make way for the waters soon.

Al Shaab School is one such example, said Maitha. This public elementary school for boys will relocate at the end of academic year 2013-14.

Providing education to more than 300 boys in grades 1-6, the school has been a welcome home to families in the community. When asked about its plans for the future earlier this year, the school management said to be unsure of these plans. However, the RTA explained that the move will be coordinated with the concerned authorities.

A little further towards the beach front is a plot of nine villas, conveniently located opposite Jumeirah Beach Park. “I do not know how much longer I will be able to stay here, but my guess is that we will have to leave,” says a resident who has been living in the community for the past 28 years.

With passion she speaks about her years of residence in the serene environment, while showing pictures of the flower beds she used to make in her garden. “I do not know if I can find a place similar in Dubai,” she sighs.

Some villas will have to be removed, indeed, confirms RTA. “We have communicated the evacuation and compensation timeline with the relevant authorities who shall do the necessary coordination as per the standard policies,” explained Maitha.

“According to the approved compensation policy the affected villas will be fairly compensated by the concerned governmental authority.”

For the remainder of the community the introduction of a waterfront is likely to improve living in the area. “These are good times for us,” says the owner of some of the villas surrounding the canal-to-be.

The villas facing Dubai Canal will be commercialized, he explains. An array of restaurants, coffee shops, shopping and entertainment centres will complement the new waterfront, which leaves plenty of investment options for property owners.

“The RTA is only developing the canal and the bridges crossing over it beside diverting the impacted utilities, but surely the canal will encourage villa owners to consider investment opportunities for their properties,” added Maitha.

Further, access to the community is likely to improve. When the project is completed, a free multi-tier interchange to link the traffic movement between Al Wasl, Al Hadiqa and Al Athar roads will be constructed to ensure smooth traffic flow, said RTA.

New transportation modes will be introduced to the community, too, as the development of the waterfront will allow for the construction of marina stations along with pedestrian pathways and cycling tracks.

All construction works of the project’s infrastructure including drilling and building bridges is set for completion in 2017.

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