'Aladdin City' is next Dubai Creek project'

First phase of construction under way at commercial vessels port in Al Rigga

• Image Credit: Courtesy Dubai Municipality
• Artist’s impression of Aladdin City project at Dubai Creek.

Dubai: A new project is now underway in the middle of Dubai Creek — Aladdin City — as part of the first phase of construction.

While Dubai Creek is currently bidding to become a Unesco World Heritage Site, officials confirmed that the project is being built outside the restricted zone and will not have any impact on the creek’s bid.

“The symbolic content of the architectural form of the project buildings was inspired by the ancient legends from the 11th century, where vessels were sailed from Dubai Creek to the coast of East Africa, India and China. It may have been here where the tales of Sindbad and Aladdin came from,’ said Hussain Nasser Lootah, Director General of Dubai Municipality.

The project will includes commercial offices and hotels in three towers spread over a distance of 450 metres. Lootah yesterday announced that the project is located within the traditional commercial vessels port at Dubai Creek in Al Rigga, out of the old area of Dubai city, and also includes several facilities, such as parking buildings.

“The development of such a project in this area will have a global cultural and historical impact and pride for generations to come and will contribute to the progress of the emirate and its dream to be No 1 in everything in accordance with the vision of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai,” said Lootah.

The project’s deadline has not been specified.

Related Links

• Sharjah's Islamic Park opened by Sultan
• Mega flagpole to rise in Jumeirah
• Yas Mall fit-out accelerated ahead of Grand Prix

Tourism

He pointed out that the project aims to develop the towers to become iconic structures that represent the beauty and tourism of the city.

“It is located at a prime location of Dubai Creek, which maintaines the activities of the port heritage. It is expected to boost Dubai economically in its long-term goals by increasing tourism in the emirate, especially to Dubai when we are going to host Expo 2020. The land use will surely be better in the project area which in turn will serve the objectives of the Municipality in bettering exploitation of the land uses in the emirate,” said Lootah.

He explained that the challenges of the project involved avoiding the crowded docks, as authorities wanted to provide visitors with the ease of walking over the port of the abras and ships to watch the harbour, without disrupting work.

The project will also overlook the modern skyscrapers and Burj Khalifa alongside Shaikh Zayed Road.

Three towers of the projects will be built in 110,000 square metres, with the highest tower having 34 floors. The other two towers will have 26 and 25 floors respectively. A total of 900 parking spots will be provided for the whole project.