Dubai Water Canal is a state-of-the-art, 3.2 km long man-made waterway cutting through Dubai’s urban core—from Business Bay, via Safa Park and Jumeirah, all the way into the Arabian Gulf—creating a unique island-like landscape.

Conceived in 2013 and officially inaugurated in November 2016, the AED 2.7 billion project reshaped the city’s waterfront, extending the historic Dubai Creek while integrating new public realms and eco-conscious infrastructure .

Framed by sweeping boardwalks, cycling and jogging tracks—totaling over 5.7 km of promenade and 12 km of cycle paths—the canal offers an immersive urban oasis for fitness, leisure, and social interaction.

The pedestrian experience is elevated through three architecturally distinct bridges—Safa Bridge, Bridge of Tolerance, and the Twisted (Jumeirah II) Bridge—each symbolizing Dubai’s past, present, and future, and providing photogenic vantage points overlooking the waterway.


A signature highlight is the waterfall cascading from Sheikh Zayed Road’s bridge—a motion-activated spectacle illuminated with LED lighting, which pauses to allow boat passage below—adding dramatic flair to the canal front experience.

The canal banks are lined with lush greenery, public seating, solar-powered streetlamps with phone-charging stations, vibrant cafes, dining venues, and boutique retail—all designed to reinforce walkability and communal enjoyment.


Marine accessibility is equally integral: the canal supports water taxis, Dubai Ferry services, private yachts, and dhow cruises, with four marina stations and dedicated boat slips—ensuring vibrant quay-side energy and connectivity.

Anchored by iconic attractions like La Perle theatre and adjacent to key green and beachfront zones—Safa Park, Jumeirah Beach Park, and the future beach park peninsula—the canal emerges as both a recreational magnet and a driver of urban development, positioned to support thousands of residences, hotels, and leisure assets in the coming years.


In essence, Dubai Water Canal epitomizes Dubai’s ambition: blending visionary infrastructure, environmental innovation, architectural artistry, and vibrant mixed-use activation—transforming the city’s waterfront into a cosmopolitan, accessible, and sustainable public realm.