This week has seen two significant events in Dubai: Madinat Jumeirah is celebrating its tenth anniversary and a promotional campaign has begun for the Dh1.76 billion project to link Dubai Creek to the Arabian Gulf. The connection, of course, is water: the tranquil waterways of Madinat have been enticing tourists and residents alike for a decade, while Dubai Canal promises to bring a further touch of romance and sophistication to the UAE's biggest city.
While Dubai may not have the historical attractions of Venice or Amsterdam, it is certainly gaining some of the ambience. In a city of more than two million people, where just negotiating your way to work through peak-hour traffic can cause a headache, these lazy watercourses represent something of an idyll.
The canal development has the blessing of Samita Khanna, a consultant for a firm specialising in the ancient Chinese practice of feng shui, who says it will channel “good energy” and prosperity into the city.
You don’t have to be a new-age follower of geomancy to know that being beside or on the water is a relaxing experience. Since life in Dubai can be hectic at the best of times, we can all do with a bit of calm.
