Meraas opens phase one of Al Seef in Dubai
New tourist destination will combine heritage and contemporary architecture
Meraas, the Dubai-based master developer, has announced that the first phase of Al Seef is now open to the public along Dubai Creek.
The 1.8km destination aims to tell Dubai’s story through architecture and experiences, allowing visitors to rediscover the heart of the city along its storied and historic creek. The shopping, dining, entertainment and tourism destination covers a total built up area of 2.5 million square feet, with 500 shopping and dining concepts.
It is located adjacent to the Al Fahidi historical district and will have a selection of floating restaurants, a marina for private yachts, a floating market and links to the Dubai water taxi network. Furthermore, Al Seef will have numerous alleyways and walkways that will hold shops, cafes, restaurants and an events plaza.
In a statement, Meraas said that Al Seef has been designed to bring to life the traditional Emirati culture that underpins Dubai’s heritage. The heritage area at Al Seef is patterned after old architecture in Dubai, while the contemporary area has sleek architectural spaces, creating a combination that bridges the gap between the old and the new.
The second phase of the destination, scheduled for delivery at the end of the first quarter of next year, will comprise of a souq, similar to those that were common in Dubai in the 1950s, with a traditional vibe and retail and dining experiences of its own
“Dubai Creek holds a special place in the history of Dubai. Its peaceful shores have welcomed travellers and tradesman since ancient times, and the development of Al Seef reflects a commitment at Meraas, to revitalise an area known for its vibrancy, in line with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai,” said Abdulla Al Habbai, group chairman of Meraas.
“By combining traditional and modern design elements, the destination highlights the role the creek has played, and continues to play, in the evolution of Dubai, and reinforces the city’s position as a leading international tourism destination by enriching the experience for visitors and creating new economic opportunities for local businesses.”
The destination has three hotels with a combined 550 rooms – a 200 key heritage hotel that offers an authentic Arabian hospitality experience, while the contemporary area will have two hotels of 200 and 150 keys each.
Residents and tourists will also have access to an open-air market and family activities at the destination.
Al Seef is fully pedestrianised and benefits from a multimodal transport system that links to key locations across the city. Dubai International Airport and Downtown Dubai are both a short drive for those arriving by car, with valet parking and plenty of underground parking spaces available upon arrival.
Two metro stations are located close by, with regular shuttle busses operating between key hotels within Dubai and other connections to the RTA public transport network operating between several prominent hotels. The creek offers access to Al Seef with yacht moorings; water taxis and abras that service the destination.
