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5 things you should know about Dubai Canal

Dubai Canal lights up to the colours of the UAE flag

Dubai - Going to the Canal for the first time? Here's some hacks to enjoy your experience.

Published: Fri 18 Nov 2016, 11:07 AM

Updated: Fri 18 Nov 2016, 11:33 PM

By
Keith Pereña

Ah, the Dubai Canal, the city's newest attraction that people are still figuring out how to access. But that hasn't stopped residents from figuring out on their own.
Despite the Canal being an attractive eyeful, there is more than meets the eye and we head out to the Dubai Canal to discover some interesting facts about its construction as well as some nuggets of knowledge you should know before ever going there.

Charging stations are EVERYWHERE

So you go to the Canal and obviously enjoy the marvelous view, take some photos but no! You run out of batteries, worry not, the Canal has charging stations around the vicinity and you can usually identify them by the black plastic looking protrusions on some of the lampposts, they even have a small table so you can put down your phone and enjoy the waterfalls on the side of Shaikh Zayed Road.

Streetlights in the Canal are solar-powered

As part of the sustainable city envisioned by His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the streetlamps around the Canal are powered by solar panels to reduce the dependency on electricity.

Parking underneath Shaikh Zayed Road is PAID

Save yourself a couple of dirhams and avoid being fined by getting a parking ticket from one of the machines around the car park underneath Shaikh Zayed Road. There's even a number code already if you prefer paying for parking thru SMS.

The waterfalls start around 8:00pm and end at 10:00pm

via GIPHY
You haven't been to the Canal if you haven't seen the water cascade along the sides of Shaikh Zayed Road. That being said, the best time to visit the Canal are between 8-10pm when the water starts flowing. Bonus Fun Fact: If any water transport passes through the waterfall, the water 'opens up' and makes way for the craft.

One of the bridges on the Canal is inspired by...

San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge. The bridge in question is the one with the blue arc where cyclists can also cross. People can still walk on it, but one might feel a slight shake on the ground here and there, this is because the bridge is supported by suspension cables to keep it up.

Residents walking along the suspension bridge.

A view of uptown Dubai from the Canal.

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