Dubai Creek
Encyclopedia
Dubai Creek or Khor Dubai is a saltwater
creek
located in Dubai
, United Arab Emirates
(UAE). It ends at Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary
. Some sources say that the creek extended as far inland as Al Ain
, and that the Ancient Greeks
called it River Zara. Historically, the creek divided the city into two main sections – Deira and Bur Dubai
. It was along the Bur Dubai creek area that members of the Bani Yas
tribe first settled in the 19th century, establishing the Al Maktoum
dynasty in the city. In the early 20th century, the creek, though incapable then of supporting large scale transportation, served as a minor port for dhow
s coming as far away as India
or East Africa
. Although it impeded the entry of ships due to current flow, the creek remained an important element in establishing the commercial position of Dubai, being the only port or harbour in the city. Dubai's pearling
industry, which formed the main sector of the city's economy, was based primarily on expeditions in the creek, prior to the invention of cultured pearl
s in the 1930s.
Fishing, also an important industry at the time, was also based along the creek, whose warm and shallow waters supported a wide variety of marine life. Dhows used for purposes of fishing were also built on the foreshore of the creek. The importance of the creek as a site of commercial activity was a justification to introduce improvements to allow larger vessels to transit, as well as to facilitate loading and unloading activities. This led, in 1955, to a plan to develop the creek, which involved dredging shallow areas, building of breakwater
s, and developing its beach to become a quay suitable for loading and unloading of cargo. The creek was first dredged in 1961 to permit 7 feet (2.1 m) draft vessel
s to cross through the creek at all times. The creek was dredged again in the 1960s and 1970s so that it could offer anchorage for local and coastal shipping of up to about 500 tons. The dredging opened up the creek to much more continuous traffic of merchandise, including the development of re-export, and gave Dubai an advantage over Sharjah
, the other dominant trading centre in the region at the time. Al Maktoum Bridge
, the first bridge connecting Bur Dubai and Deira was constructed in 1963. Although the importance of the creek as a port has diminished with the development of the Jebel Ali Port, smaller facilities, such as Port Saeed
, continue to exist along the creek, providing porting
to traders from the region and the subcontinent
.
Including the most remarkable buildings alongside the Deira side of the Creek are the Deira Twin Towers
, Dubai Creek Tower
, Sheraton Dubai Creek, National Bank
and Chamber of Commerce
.
The creek's initial inlet into mainland Dubai is along the Deira Corniche
and Al Ras
areas of eastern Dubai and along the Al Shindagha
area of western Dubai. It then progresses south-eastward through the mainland, passing through Port Saeed and Dubai Creek Park. The creek's natural ending is at the Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary
, 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) from its origin at the Persian Gulf
. The traditional form of transport between the eastern and western sections of Dubai via the creek was through abra
s, which continue to operate in Dubai. In addition, the eastern and western sections are linked via four bridges (Al Maktoum Bridge
, Al Garhoud Bridge
, Business Bay Crossing
and Floating Bridge
) and one tunnel (Al Shindagha Tunnel
).
484 million (US$
132 million) extension of was completed to the creek, which now ends just south of the Metropolitan Hotel on Shaikh Zayed Road. A final 2.2-kilometre extension will cross Shaikh Zayed Road in a northerly route, pass through Safa Park and then through Jumeirah 2. The channel is expected to continue through Jumeirah Beach Park where it will reach the shores of the Gulf.
Additionally, a new project consisting of seven islands known as The Lagoons
was proposed to be built on Dubai Creek. The center piece of this project will the be Dubai Towers Dubai
, a set of towers of which the tallest will top 400 metres (1,312 ft) while two others will exceed 300 metres (984.3 ft). Three additional bridges are being planned for Dubai creek which includes, The Seventh Crossing, Al Shindagha Bridge, and The Fifth Bridge.
Seawater
Seawater is water from a sea or ocean. On average, seawater in the world's oceans has a salinity of about 3.5% . This means that every kilogram of seawater has approximately of dissolved salts . The average density of seawater at the ocean surface is 1.025 g/ml...
creek
Creek (tidal)
A tidal creek, tidal channel, or estuary is the portion of a stream that is affected by ebb and flow of ocean tides, in the case that the subject stream discharges to an ocean, sea or strait. Thus this portion of the stream has variable salinity and electrical conductivity over the tidal cycle...
located in Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
, United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
(UAE). It ends at Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary
Ras al Khor
Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, , Dubai, United Arab Emirates, is a wetland reserve renowned for attracting migratory birds in large numbers. The wetlands have large numbers of birds, crustaceans, small mammals and fish....
. Some sources say that the creek extended as far inland as Al Ain
Al Ain
Al Ain |Spring]]), also known as the Garden City due to its greenery, is the second largest city in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and the fourth largest city in the United Arab Emirates. With a population of 374,000 , it is located approximately 160 km east of the capital Abu Dhabi and about...
, and that the Ancient Greeks
Ancient Greece
Ancient Greece is a civilization belonging to a period of Greek history that lasted from the Archaic period of the 8th to 6th centuries BC to the end of antiquity. Immediately following this period was the beginning of the Early Middle Ages and the Byzantine era. Included in Ancient Greece is the...
called it River Zara. Historically, the creek divided the city into two main sections – Deira and Bur Dubai
Bur Dubai
Bur Dubai is a historic district in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, located on the western side of the Dubai Creek. The name literally translates to Mainland Dubai, a reference to the traditional separation of the Bur Dubai area from Deira by the Dubai Creek...
. It was along the Bur Dubai creek area that members of the Bani Yas
Bani Yas
Bani Yas is a tribe in the United Arab Emirates that had a coalition with many other tribes in the region. The tribal coalition which consists of tribes from Dubai to Khawr al Udayd southeast of Qatar, was called the Bani Yas Coalition. The tribe has been led by their rulers the Al Nahyan and their...
tribe first settled in the 19th century, establishing the Al Maktoum
Al Maktoum
Al Maktoum is the family name of the ruling dynasty of the emirate of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The Al Maktoum family is a branch of the Bani Yas tribe , a powerful bedouin clan from the interior...
dynasty in the city. In the early 20th century, the creek, though incapable then of supporting large scale transportation, served as a minor port for dhow
Dhow
Dhow is the generic name of a number of traditional sailing vessels with one or more masts with lateen sails used in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean region. Some historians believe the dhow was invented by Arabs but this is disputed by some others. Dhows typically weigh 300 to 500 tons, and have a...
s coming as far away as India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
or East Africa
East Africa
East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easterly region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. In the UN scheme of geographic regions, 19 territories constitute Eastern Africa:...
. Although it impeded the entry of ships due to current flow, the creek remained an important element in establishing the commercial position of Dubai, being the only port or harbour in the city. Dubai's pearling
Pearling
Pearling may refer to:* Pearl hunting, the practice of diving for pearls* Pearling , a form of genital beading...
industry, which formed the main sector of the city's economy, was based primarily on expeditions in the creek, prior to the invention of cultured pearl
Cultured pearl
A cultured pearl is a pearl created by a pearl farmer under controlled conditions.-Development of a pearl:A pearl is formed when the mantle tissue is injured by a parasite, an attack of a fish or another event that damages the external fragile rim of the shell of a molluc shell bivalve or gastropod...
s in the 1930s.
Fishing, also an important industry at the time, was also based along the creek, whose warm and shallow waters supported a wide variety of marine life. Dhows used for purposes of fishing were also built on the foreshore of the creek. The importance of the creek as a site of commercial activity was a justification to introduce improvements to allow larger vessels to transit, as well as to facilitate loading and unloading activities. This led, in 1955, to a plan to develop the creek, which involved dredging shallow areas, building of breakwater
Breakwater (structure)
Breakwaters are structures constructed on coasts as part of coastal defence or to protect an anchorage from the effects of weather and longshore drift.-Purposes of breakwaters:...
s, and developing its beach to become a quay suitable for loading and unloading of cargo. The creek was first dredged in 1961 to permit 7 feet (2.1 m) draft vessel
Ship
Since the end of the age of sail a ship has been any large buoyant marine vessel. Ships are generally distinguished from boats based on size and cargo or passenger capacity. Ships are used on lakes, seas, and rivers for a variety of activities, such as the transport of people or goods, fishing,...
s to cross through the creek at all times. The creek was dredged again in the 1960s and 1970s so that it could offer anchorage for local and coastal shipping of up to about 500 tons. The dredging opened up the creek to much more continuous traffic of merchandise, including the development of re-export, and gave Dubai an advantage over Sharjah
Sharjah (city)
Sharjah is the third largest and most populous city in the United Arab Emirates. It is located along the southern coast of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula.Sharjah is the seat of government of the emirate of Sharjah...
, the other dominant trading centre in the region at the time. Al Maktoum Bridge
Al Maktoum Bridge
Al Maktoum Bridge is a bridge that crosses Dubai Creek in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It is one of five crossings on the creek. The others are Al Shindagha Tunnel, Floating Bridge, Al Garhoud Bridge and Business Bay Crossing.Al Maktoum Bridge was the first bridge in Dubai. It opened in 1963...
, the first bridge connecting Bur Dubai and Deira was constructed in 1963. Although the importance of the creek as a port has diminished with the development of the Jebel Ali Port, smaller facilities, such as Port Saeed
Port Saeed
This article is about the locality in Dubai. For the Egyptian city of a similar name, see Port Said.Port Saeed is a locality in Dubai, United Arab Emirates...
, continue to exist along the creek, providing porting
Porting
In computer science, porting is the process of adapting software so that an executable program can be created for a computing environment that is different from the one for which it was originally designed...
to traders from the region and the subcontinent
Indian subcontinent
The Indian subcontinent, also Indian Subcontinent, Indo-Pak Subcontinent or South Asian Subcontinent is a region of the Asian continent on the Indian tectonic plate from the Hindu Kush or Hindu Koh, Himalayas and including the Kuen Lun and Karakoram ranges, forming a land mass which extends...
.
Including the most remarkable buildings alongside the Deira side of the Creek are the Deira Twin Towers
Deira Twin Towers
The Deira Twin Towers , also known as the Dubai Twin Towers or Rolex Towers are located in eastern Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in Deira...
, Dubai Creek Tower
Dubai Creek Tower
Dubai Creek Tower is a building in Dubai, United Arab Emirates . Located along the Dubai Creek, the Dubai Creek Tower is situated in eastern Dubai, in Deira. The building, constructed in 1995, is part of the old Dubai downtown along the Dubai Creek, and was the second-tallest building in Dubai,...
, Sheraton Dubai Creek, National Bank
National Bank of Dubai
Emirates NBD, the largest banking group in the Middle East in terms of assets, was formed on 16 October 2007 when the shares of Emirates NBD were officially listed on the Dubai Financial Market...
and Chamber of Commerce
Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry (building)
Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry , also referred to as the Chamber of Commerce Building, is a building in Dubai, United Arab Emirates . Located in eastern Dubai in Deira, the building is the headquarters of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry...
.
The creek's initial inlet into mainland Dubai is along the Deira Corniche
Deira Corniche
The Deira Corniche is a waterfront promenade in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The Deira Corniche, sometimes also referred to as the Dubai Corniche lies in northeastern Dubai, in Deira...
and Al Ras
Al Ras
Al Ras is a locality in Dubai, United Arab Emirates . It is the easternmost locality in the area of Deira and borders the Dubai Creek to the west and south, and Al Dhagaya and Al Buteen to the east. Al Ras, literally meaning The Cape, is one of the oldest communities in Deira...
areas of eastern Dubai and along the Al Shindagha
Al Shindagha
Al Shindagha , sometimes spelled Al Shindagah or Al Shindaga, is a neighbourhood in the traditional centre of the city of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. From 1912 to 1958, the then ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum, lived in the area — his residence in Al Shindagha is now open to...
area of western Dubai. It then progresses south-eastward through the mainland, passing through Port Saeed and Dubai Creek Park. The creek's natural ending is at the Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary
Ras al Khor
Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, , Dubai, United Arab Emirates, is a wetland reserve renowned for attracting migratory birds in large numbers. The wetlands have large numbers of birds, crustaceans, small mammals and fish....
, 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) from its origin at the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
. The traditional form of transport between the eastern and western sections of Dubai via the creek was through abra
Abra (boat)
An abra is a traditional boat made of wood, used to transport people across Dubai Creek in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. A medium-sized single-engine craft with a capacity of about 20 passengers, it is driven by a single operator from a cockpit stepped in the center of the hull...
s, which continue to operate in Dubai. In addition, the eastern and western sections are linked via four bridges (Al Maktoum Bridge
Al Maktoum Bridge
Al Maktoum Bridge is a bridge that crosses Dubai Creek in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It is one of five crossings on the creek. The others are Al Shindagha Tunnel, Floating Bridge, Al Garhoud Bridge and Business Bay Crossing.Al Maktoum Bridge was the first bridge in Dubai. It opened in 1963...
, Al Garhoud Bridge
Al Garhoud bridge
Al Garhoud Bridge is one of four road bridges over Dubai Creek, and one of five crossing, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Al Garhoud Bridge forms the eastern end of the road toll that went into effect on 1 July 2007...
, Business Bay Crossing
Business Bay Crossing
The 13 lane Business Bay Crossing is one of the most recent bridges across Dubai Creek and was opened to traffic in June 2007...
and Floating Bridge
Floating Bridge, Dubai
Floating Bridge is a pontoon bridge in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It connects Riyadh Road, Dubai Courts and Creek Park on the Bur Dubai side with Baniyas Road, Deira City Centre and the Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club on the Deira side. Floating Bridge is the fifth crossing on Dubai Creek...
) and one tunnel (Al Shindagha Tunnel
Al Shindagha Tunnel
Al Shindagha Tunnel is a tunnel in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It goes under Dubai Creek to connect the neighborhoods of Deira and Al Shindagha. It is the only underwater crossing at Dubai Creek. The tunnel has a total of four lanes, two in each direction. It opened in 1975....
).
Crossings
- Al Garhoud BridgeAl Garhoud bridgeAl Garhoud Bridge is one of four road bridges over Dubai Creek, and one of five crossing, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Al Garhoud Bridge forms the eastern end of the road toll that went into effect on 1 July 2007...
- Al Maktoum BridgeAl Maktoum BridgeAl Maktoum Bridge is a bridge that crosses Dubai Creek in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It is one of five crossings on the creek. The others are Al Shindagha Tunnel, Floating Bridge, Al Garhoud Bridge and Business Bay Crossing.Al Maktoum Bridge was the first bridge in Dubai. It opened in 1963...
- Al Shindagha TunnelAl Shindagha TunnelAl Shindagha Tunnel is a tunnel in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It goes under Dubai Creek to connect the neighborhoods of Deira and Al Shindagha. It is the only underwater crossing at Dubai Creek. The tunnel has a total of four lanes, two in each direction. It opened in 1975....
- Business Bay CrossingBusiness Bay CrossingThe 13 lane Business Bay Crossing is one of the most recent bridges across Dubai Creek and was opened to traffic in June 2007...
- Floating Bridge, DubaiFloating Bridge, DubaiFloating Bridge is a pontoon bridge in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It connects Riyadh Road, Dubai Courts and Creek Park on the Bur Dubai side with Baniyas Road, Deira City Centre and the Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club on the Deira side. Floating Bridge is the fifth crossing on Dubai Creek...
2000s developments
By September 2007, a Dhs.United Arab Emirates dirham
The dirham is the currency of the United Arab Emirates. The ISO 4217 code for the United Arab Emirates dirham is AED. Unofficial abbreviations include DH or Dhs. The dirham is subdivided into 100 ....
484 million (US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
132 million) extension of was completed to the creek, which now ends just south of the Metropolitan Hotel on Shaikh Zayed Road. A final 2.2-kilometre extension will cross Shaikh Zayed Road in a northerly route, pass through Safa Park and then through Jumeirah 2. The channel is expected to continue through Jumeirah Beach Park where it will reach the shores of the Gulf.
Additionally, a new project consisting of seven islands known as The Lagoons
The Lagoons
The Lagoons is a real-estate development that is under construction in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and is situated along Dubai Creek, near Ras Al Khor Road.-Purpose:...
was proposed to be built on Dubai Creek. The center piece of this project will the be Dubai Towers Dubai
Dubai Towers Dubai
Dubai Towers Dubai is a four tower complex to be built in the city of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The developer, Sama Dubai, intends this to form the centrepiece of The Lagoons, a megaproject located on Dubai Creek which will consist of seven islands...
, a set of towers of which the tallest will top 400 metres (1,312 ft) while two others will exceed 300 metres (984.3 ft). Three additional bridges are being planned for Dubai creek which includes, The Seventh Crossing, Al Shindagha Bridge, and The Fifth Bridge.