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Dubai officially launches $1bn canal

Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has officially inaugurated the Dubai Water Canal in a spectacular nighttime ceremony capped by a firework display.

Streamed live online, the celebrations started with the national anthem, and later featured an aerial show inspired by the UAE’s heritage against the backdrop of a water fountain themed: A Million Drops Make the Oceans, Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported.

This was followed by the screening of a movie showing the various stages of construction works, which include three motor bridges and five footbridges. Construction works on the canal project were completed on 27 October 2016 after which the canal was slowly flooded with water.

The development of Dubai Creek began in 1959 when the father of modern Dubai, the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, deepened the waterway to ease marine navigation as well as constructing Al Maktoum and Al Garhoud Bridges, and Al Shindagha Tunnel.

Sheikh Mohammed took the project forward, starting with the extension of the creek from Ras Al Khor to Business Bay near Sheikh Zayed Road. The 9km first stage was undertaken by Dubai Holding which is also developing the canalside Marasi Business Bay project.

The second and final phase of the project, implemented by Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), cost AED 2.7bn ($735mn) and extends 3.2 km. The entire project extended 12km and cost around AED 3.7bn ($1bn).

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