US$11bn Canal project in Dubai

1:11 AM Mon 8 Dec 2008 GMT

'Arabian Canal Route' Click Here to view large photo

Limitless, a global master development arm of Dubai World, will manage the design and construction of the Arabian Canal - the largest, most complex civil engineering project ever undertaken in the Middle East.

The US$11 billion project involves creating a 75km man-made waterway, which will flow inland from Dubai Waterfront, passing to the east of the new Dubai World Central International Airport before turning back towards Palm Jumeirah.

Up to 150m wide and 6m deep, it will be able to accommodate boats up to 40m long. The project will take around five years to complete, with work due to start in December this year.

Saeed Ahmed Saeed, Chief Executive Officer of Limitless, said: "Arabian Canal - Dubai's most ambitious mega-project yet - draws on our key strengths of innovative engineering and master planning distinctive developments. It will involve digging and moving more than a million cubic metres of earth - enough to fill 400 Olympic-sized swimming pools - every day. Arabian Canal will, without question, be one of the wonders of the engineering world.

"The project will create life in the desert. It will be a globally-recognised landmark destination for UAE residents and visitors, with public spaces for leisure and community events as well as a number of mixed-use developments, in addition to the waterway itself," he added.

Aussie, Joe Goddard from JGMarine is involved in the project, which once completed, will be of the magnitude of the Suez Canal.

Goddard has been retained to conduct feasibility studies for five marina facilities along the canal. He has already submitted plans for two and this next stint, he will focus on the subsequent three, designed to accommodate approximately 1000 boats in total.

Prior to this, Goddard was responsible for designing and project managing the Dubai's first modern commercial marina, the Dubai Marina & Yacht Club, boasting many hundreds of marina berths and 3.5km of waterfront for which he won on behalf of Emaar Properties the an Arabian Yachting Award for innovation in 2007.

Goddard on site at the Arabian Canal. - .. Click Here to view large photo

As Goddard explained: 'Following the global trend, marinas in the UAE are generally centered around residential developments. There are a lot of very exclusive integrated living developments going up, encompassing apartments, hotels, landscaping, bike tracks."

Goddard believes the marine market in the Middle East has the potential to eventually eclipse traditional boating centres, including Australia. "The professionals there are learning so fast and are dedicated to learning how to operate successfully. They are determined to grow this segment.

"There is an appetite for a better standard across the board, which is why they are outsourcing experts from around the globe. The only thing holding them back is the local market's comparatively slow take up of boating. As yet, the local people don't have the boating culture or knowledge, but they are picking it up."

Limitless will also master plan its biggest mixed-use development yet as part of the Arabian Canal project. The US$50 billion waterfront development will span 12,500 along the inland section of the waterway, east of the new international airport.

The project is designed to be a focal point for Dubai's cultural attractions and community events. It will include marinas, residential communities and business centres serving over a million people.

Saeed Ahmed Saeed said: "The master plan for our canalside development bears all the hallmarks of a classic Limitless project. Balanced, sustainable and planned around people, it includes green, open spaces and distinctive residential, commercial, retail and recreational components."

The development will be constructed in phases over a 15 year period.

by Jeni Bone

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