4 Dubai projects adding to Expo 2020's charm

A scale model of the Dubai Water Canal displayed at Cityscape International. The project is steadily inching towards completion.

The World Expo isn't just any ordinary event. It's a mammoth booster of tourism, hospitality and economy for the host country and always triggers real estate and infrastructure improvements in cities playing host. A similar picture is being seen in Dubai as Expo 2020 edges closer.

Finding inevitable prosperity attached with Expo 2020, many local and international property developers have started announcing quality projects in every corner of the city. The government, on the other hand, is also working efficiently on upholstering the infrastructure of the emirate and has assured timely completion of prominent projects such as Dubai Metro Red line extension and the Dubai Water Canal.

In order to reap the maximum yield, most property developers in Dubai have timed their developments to a date much before 2020. The government is also welcoming every realistic project aiming at boosting tourism and hospitality of Dubai, as it targets hosting more than 25 million visitors for the mammoth event. With some help from friends at UAE realty portal Bayut.com, we have compiled a list of upcoming projects that will delight those coming to Dubai in the next few years.

Aladdin City
Designed specially for the Dubai Creek, Aladdin City is an interesting hospitality project inspired by the tales of Aladdin and Sindbad. Last year, Dubai Municipality announced that the project was in design stages and promised to start development later this year.

As per project plans, Aladdin City will have three towers, spread over a distance of 450 metres on the Dubai Creek. The project will offer commercial and hotel space along with air-conditioned bridges connecting the three towers, complete with moving walkways. The project will also cater to parking issues by offering parking space for 900 cars.

Deira Islands
Deira Islands, a project being developed by Nakheel, will add a unique touch of Arabian culture to the contemporary environment in the region. The project boasts four man-made islands which can be accessed by abras (traditional Emirati boats).

As per reports, the total land area of Deira Islands will be a staggering 15.3 square kilometres. Upon completion, the four islands will offer a 21km beachfront and accommodation for over 357,000 people.

Experts believe Deira Islands will kick the hospitality sector up another notch and present Dubai with new horizons of tourism attractions. The project will not only increase Dubai's land area but also add nine beaches to the emirate.

The Islands will also include a marina for accommodating large yachts, a shopping mall and 30,000-seater amphitheatre. Nakheel said it will also construct a road bridge connecting the islands.

Jewel of the Creek
Dubai International Real Estate has announced the Jewel of the Creek project in Dubai Creek. The project will feature five hospitality buildings, a hotel with serviced apartments and a ballroom with attached cafe. The project will be further elaborated with hard and soft landscaping and upon completion, the development will also feature one vehicular bridge, four foot bridges and a marina.

As per reports, the project is worth Dh3 billion and is being developed by Habtoor Leighton Group in Port Saeed. The company started work on the project in 2012 and is aiming at the completion of substructure works. The project is slated for delivery prior to 2020.

Dubai Water Canal
When talking about new projects in Dubai, who can forget about the Dubai Water Canal? Beginning at the Dubai Creak and carving its way across Al Safa Park and Jumeirah towards the beach, the Dubai Water Canal is steadily inching towards completion.

Development work on the project designed to connect Business Bay with the Arabian Gulf is in full swing and once completed, it will grant the entire area it encompasses an artificial island status. The project is worth Dh7.34 billion and is being developed under the supervision of the Roads and Transport Authority. Upon completion, the canal will be six metres deep with bridges built eight metres high to allow yachts and other marine crafts to sail through.

The writer is editor at Bayut.com, Views expressed are his own and do not reflect the newspaper's policy.