With the push of a button, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, inaugurated the Dubai Canal on the evening of November 9, 2016. With the opening of the Dh3.7 billion waterway connecting Dubai Creek with the Arabian Gulf, Sheikh Mohammed also realised the dream of his father, Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed.
Indeed, it was Sheikh Rashid, who became Ruler in 1958, and whose vision it was to deepen Dubai Creek, that set the emirate on course as a global centre of trade and commerce.
First announced in 2013, the 3.2km-long Dubai Canal extends the Dubai Creek from Business Bay underneath Sheikh Zayed Road, through Safa Park and Jumeirah and onto the Arabian Gulf. The plans by developer Dubai Holding included a 12km promenade with water homes, floating restaurants, shops and five marinas lined with palm trees. The project also featured the first purpose-built yachting destination in the region and other leisure and entertainment. Residential units would be built on water with boat access and offer views of the canal.
Traffic diversion work on Sheikh Zayed Road in the Dubai-Abu Dhabi direction near Safa Park began in 2014, with the construction of the Dubai Canal split into three phases. The first phase included the construction of the bridge across the canal on Sheikh Zayed Road. Rising eight metres to allow free navigation of the canal, the bridge consists of eight lanes in each direction.
The second phase included the construction of bridges across the canal on Jumeirah and Al Wasl roads spanning three lanes on Jumeirah Road and two lanes on Al Wasl Road in each direction, in addition to a flyover from Al Wasl Road to Al Hadiqa Road in the direction of Sheikh Zayed Road.
The final phase included the drilling of the canal, landfilling works and the construction of a sea wall to prepare a sand beach, building a marina for boats and water buses and the construction of three landmark pedestrian bridges above the canal.
The first pedestrian bridge, which is 122 metres long and six metres wide, is supported by two 90-tonne forked antennas, which were installed inside the canal before it was flooded. The second bridge is S-shaped and extends 205 metres and is suspended by a 1,700-tonne arch and steel cables. The third, a 140-metre-long and 3.5-metre-wide bridge, features a twisted structure. The design is meant to protect pedestrians from the sun while still giving them striking views of the Dubai skyline.
In 2017, on International Day of Tolerance on November 16, Sheikh Mohammed announced that the S-shape pedestrian bridge has been named Tolerance Bridge.
"Tolerance is synonymous with the UAE," said Sheikh Mohammed. "It is a fundamental value of our people and an essential element for our development and prosperity in the future."
The twisting Dubai Water Canal Bridge was named one of the most beautiful bridges in the world by Conde Nast Traveller in 2021. The magazine put the unique footbridge alongside other eye-catching bridges, such as California's Golden Gate Bridge and the Glenfinnan Viaduct in Scotland, and said the unusual twisting design "evokes the movement and motion when crossing from one bank to the other".
The designers of the bridge said it is representative of the "future and the dynamic vision of Dubai". At the opening of the Dubai Canal a year earlier, Sheikh Mohammed praised the implementation of the project and said the UAE aspires to rank among the world’s leading nations.
"Every achievement and success that we celebrate motivates us to move ahead with confidence, determination and optimism. We are challenging ourselves to generate the best ideas and initiatives,” he said at an event at a peninsula near Jumeirah Beach Park. "Our progressive way of thinking, ambition and positive energy will bring happiness to the people and prosperity to the nation.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
So what is Spicy Chickenjoy?
Just as McDonald’s has the Big Mac, Jollibee has Spicy Chickenjoy – a piece of fried chicken that’s crispy and spicy on the outside and comes with a side of spaghetti, all covered in tomato sauce and topped with sausage slices and ground beef. It sounds like a recipe that a child would come up with, but perhaps that’s the point – a flavourbomb combination of cheap comfort foods. Chickenjoy is Jollibee’s best-selling product in every country in which it has a presence.
APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)
Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits
Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
Storage: 128/256/512GB
Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4
Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR 4, full-HD @ 25/30/60fps
Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID
Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight
In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
Price: From Dh2,099
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere
Director: Scott Cooper
Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Odessa Young, Jeremy Strong
Rating: 4/5
The Vines - In Miracle Land
Two stars
MATCH INFO
Rugby World Cup (all times UAE)
Final: England v South Africa, Saturday, 1pm
Venom
Director: Ruben Fleischer
Cast: Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed
Rating: 1.5/5
Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances
All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.
Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.
Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.
Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.
Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.
Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
The specS: 2018 Toyota Camry
Price: base / as tested: Dh91,000 / Dh114,000
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 298hp @ 6,600rpm
Torque: 356Nm @ 4,700rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km
Anghami
Started: December 2011
Co-founders: Elie Habib, Eddy Maroun
Based: Beirut and Dubai
Sector: Entertainment
Size: 85 employees
Stage: Series C
Investors: MEVP, du, Mobily, MBC, Samena Capital
