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WATCH: Dubai Water Canal opens with fireworks, laser show

Dubai - The Canal is one of Shaikh Mohammed's smart ideas, adding a unique tourist and commercial showpiece while offering a new style of living in Dubai city

His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, officially opened the Dubai Water Canal on Wednesday, adding another iconic landmark and creating a new face for the city.
Not only does Dubai have a new waterway but another island has been added to its geography. The 3.2-kilometre Dubai Canal flowing into the Arabian Gulf, has now turned the major parts of Dubai, including Business Bay, parts of Jumeirah, a major portion of old Dubai including areas like Bur Dubai, Zabeel, Karama, Oud Metha and Satwa into an island.
A little over three years after it was first announced on October 2, 2013, the canal has also added a total of 6.4km to the city's waterfront starting from the Business Bay and stretching to Safa Park, Al Wasl Road, Jumeirah 2 and Jumeirah Road to end in the Arabian Gulf at the Jumeirah Beach Park
The opening ceremony was held at the Jumeirah Bay Island witnessed by government officials, dignitaries, business leaders and VIP guests.
The glitzy event started with a laser and acrobatic show. A documentary featuring Dubai's rich history was shown, starting with the historic dredging and widening of the Dubai Creek in the 1960s and moving forward to Dubai's vision for the future.
Shaikh Mohammed then led the guests to the Dubai Ferry from the Jumeirah Bay Island station to the Canal bridge on Shaikh Zayed Road, where a fireworks display culminated the official opening

In an earlier statement, Mattar Al Tayer, director-general and chairman of the board of executive directors of the RTA, said: "The Dubai Water Canal is one of the smart ideas of Shaikh Mohammed to add a unique tourist and commercial showpiece offering a new style of living in Dubai city. Shaikh Mohammed is always keen to roll out creative and cracking visionary ideas that define new concepts for people's happiness and welfare."
"The Dubai Water Canal extends the historical heart of Dubai's trading zone the Dubai Creek and reconnects the Arabian Gulf. It is an important milestone that will enhance the lives of visitors and residents," said Saeed Humaid Al Tayer, chairman and CEO of Meydan Group. "This landmark project realises the vision of Shaikh Mohammed, to create a fabric of social networks and family friendly-oriented developments."
"The project will improve the overall connectivity of the city and stitches together the old and the new, further strengthening Dubai as a global centre for tourism, leisure and trade.
Meydan Group has always been at the forefront of sports and real estate development in Dubai, keeping with Shaikh Mohammed's directive to create a prosperous and dynamic society. We are proud to be stakeholders in this endeavour and we congratulate the RTA, our co-partners Meraas Holding and the United Arab Emirates on this ground-breaking project," he added.

For his part, Meraas group chairman Abdulla Al Habbai said: "The Dubai Water Canal is one of the most important tourism projects in the city; it will transform the landscape and features of the Emirate which has established itself, as a shining example for cities around the world, encouraging them to pursue innovation and creativity in their march towards the future."
angel@khaleejtimes.com