Dubai Marina is an impressive skyline defining city, within the bigger city of Dubai. However not many are aware of it.
It has been overshadowed by its parent in World media, Gulf and local narratives. It therefore comes as surprise for first time visitors to Dubai Marina including locals and long time residents in wider UAE. The big city of Dubai takes all the credit.
The general assumption is that Dubai Marina is like any other other marina with a residential and retail mix.
Marinas with mixed residential and retail mix are common in the West. They range in various sizes. Not so Dubai Marina. Its a massive undertaking and development. Despite its finished look, new buildings and plans for more are still in progress.
Dubai – a world city
This will help provide context about Dubai and why it overshadows Dubai Marina.
Dubai has it own well earned success story. It is a city that has evolved to become a draw for so many people from so many countries. It seems to be owned by everyone from around the World. A mix of residents, tourists and those on business.
Whether in a mall or the metro in Dubai you will hear a wide variety of languages from around the World. Not just English or French but languages from Russia to China and in between. Not just tourists but expatriate residents as well. Truly a World city.
Business is what drives the city and this Emirate. It is the centre of commerce and mercantile trade since the 18th century for the Gulf. First as a pearling and then trading port in the Persian Gulf.
Not on oil
Despite its location in the Middle East, it was not built on oil. The exception. It was built well before oil was discovered in that part of the World. And its reserves are much smaller than neighbouring Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
Its rulers however had a vision. They made it the centre of commerce for the region and eventually drawing both foreigners to work and live there as well bringing in the tourists.
Sheikh Saeed bin Maktoum, the grandfather and Sheikh Rashid, the father of the current ruler created and built Dubai. The current ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is no different in further developing the vision. He took it to the next level. And the journey continues.
Leaving aside the business end, tourism is the icing on the cake. There is also the overlap between business and tourism where meetings, conventions and conferences. The industry term is “mice” – meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions are in play.
Tourists that come to Dubai are also different to those who are into visiting natural and man made attractions or drawn to the climate.
They are here to see Dubai’s success, having heard about it. As well as to enjoy a range of amenities from shopping, spa treatments to food and entertainment.
It is also for those celebrating family events such as weddings back home in South Asia and the Middle East to shop in Dubai. Ranges from buying gold to preparatory to-do-lists such as beauty treatment, gowns and dresses to ornaments for the event. It has become a cultural emporium for the region.
Back to Dubai Marina
Firstly Dubai Marina is a man-made canal city and waterfront. The 3 km canal was dug and water brought in from the gulf. Prior to that it was all sand and flat.
It is now the World’s largest marina. Unless you were told, it looks natural as it was done very well.
Designed to be a World class destination not just for tourism but also those who want to live there. The approach was to develop a waterfront community for residential, commercial and leisure purposes. In that it has succeeded many times.
Construction began in 2003 with the first three years spent on digging the canal and building the infrastructure such as roads, utilities and essential facilities.
From 2005 to 2008, construction of residential towers, hotels, retail outlets and the waterfront promenade began.
In 2008 on completion of phase 1, the Dubai Marina was officially opened.
At the time of writing this post in November 2023, the Marina has 163 completed buildings ranging from 6 to 40 floors. 14 are at various stages of construction and further 5 are in planning stage. In total 196 buildings. Over a hundred shops and restaurants, a 7 km Marina walk and its own Mall.
The amazing skyline
It is breathtaking when seen for the first time. One would actually think it is the centre of a capital city and not a large neighbourhood.
The single most defining feature is the amazing skyline. The height of the skyscrapers, the architectural design and individuality of each building is outstanding and unparalleled.
It will be interesting to be a fly on the wall when the people behind it first conceived it.
Was it predominantly planned as a marina or residential neighbourhood, a tourist attraction or something else but evolved to its current state?
My sense is that it was to planned to be a Marina with mixed use and it went from there.
Then there is the question of controlling the theme of development.
Though much of the development was done by Emaar, the master developer, the rest of the buildings are well designed and clearly different.
Some of them are architecturally exceptional. The first glance of its skyline and you know that it is stunning. I remember seeing the skyline emerging in the horizon on my first approach and visit and it was breathtaking.
The Cayan Tower takes the cake, a visually stunning piece that grabs your attention immediately with its 90 degree twist. The art of the possibility. Seconds would be the majestically looking Marina 101, Princess Tower and 23 Marina.
A residential city than a marina
Not just a Marina by any stretch of the imagination. Yes there are boats, yachts, deckhands, sailors but it is much more.
Many of the boats and yachts are not owned by recreational owners but by commercial interest and their primary aim is to provide cruises, charters and boat parties. A waterfront yes and a spectacular one.
To me Dubai Marina is large scale high end and well planned waterfront residential city that is unparalleled in so many ways.
It is also a major tourists draw because of what it is. The various cruises and options help make visits meaningful. There is always a place to dine for all meals of the day.
What to do
If you are visitor or tourist there are excellent hotels with waterfront locations. Do find marina facing rooms and there is always a surcharge for the view. But worth it.
There are lots of shops and eateries all the over Marina. Might be productive to do a bit of research so you get the best outcome.
For dinner, plan and book for the cruise at dusk. This comes with catered meals and drinks and leaves the dock at 5pm. An excellent time during the cooler months to see the Marina and the outer harbour in all its beauty before the sun sets. It is a leisurely circular cruise of an hour that takes you outside the marina and back. During the hot season go for the 8pm or later cruises as the daunting heat and humidity are a challenge.
There are later cruises but I felt it was too dark except for the radiant lightings from the buildings and walkways. There are also custom cruises for small groups with crafts of various sizes.
A weekend stay is excellent and you will be mingling with the residents and tourists with marked sense of vibrancy. Despite the crowds on weekends there is a relaxed and leisurely air about it.