Two major infrastructure projects in Dubai have received the green light from the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, it was announced on Saturday.
HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum approved the $680.6mn Madinat Jumeirah expansion project and the Creek Panorama project, which will be the first pedestrian bridge across Dubai Creek from Bur Dubai to Shindagha.
Sheikh Mohammed said that the launch of the fourth phase of expansion of Madinat Jumeirah was part of the development of the tourism infrastructure in Dubai, which must match the UAE’s growing position as an international tourism hub.
The expansion includes a luxury five star hotel, a villa complex, restaurants and a commercial centre. It is expected to be completed by the end of 2015.
Mattar Al Tayer, the chairman of the board and executive director of the Roads and Transport Authority said that the Creek Panorama project was a 120m bridge which would span Dubai Creek at a height of 17m. He explained that it would provide a pedestrian friendly conduit to the business district.
He added that the Al Sofouh Tram project, which is also under construction, would extend 14km along Al Sofouh Road and would have 19 stations. Each tram would carry 300 passengers, and once completed a fleet of 25 trams would carry 5,000 passengers per hour per direction.