Dubai Creek district to undergo world-class regeneration, Sheikh Hamdan says

Crown Prince of Dubai plans to attract creatives and start-ups to the Fahidi area, where the city's story began

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  Tourists visit the historic Al Fahidi neighbourhood of Dubai. AFP

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  Al Fahidi Fort in old Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

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  The Creek divides Bur Dubai and Deira. Reem Mohammed / The National

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  Modern buildings are reflected in the window of a traditional house in the neighbourhood of Al Fahidi. AFP

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  A woman walks in front of a traditional house in the neighborhood of Al Fahidi. AFP

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  Men feed fish with leftover bread at the Creek in Al Fahidi, Bur Dubai. Mohamed Somji / AFP

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  Al Farooq Mosque in Al Fahidi Historical District on a sunny day with blue skies

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  Dubai Museum is now located in the fort. Pawan Singh / The National

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  Dubai Creek has been the heart of the city for centuries. Reem Mohammed / The National

Dubai's oldest neighbourhood is to undergo regeneration to attract residents, visitors, creatives and start-ups to the area.

Al Fahidi district dates back to the 19th century and was at the city's heart as it grew from a sleepy fishing village to a global metropolis. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, was born in nearby Shindagha.

"We seek to turn it into a leading cultural destination that highlights our nation’s authentic architectural and urban heritage," Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, said on Sunday.

Sheikh Hamdan approved a broader project that seeks to make the city's walls and streets an "open art gallery".

With the regeneration project, the government wants to create a "platform for young people to showcase their creative talent and start-up companies in the cultural sector to showcase their offerings".

"It also aims to rehabilitate the neighbourhood’s facilities and infrastructure as well as improve its general appearance," Dubai Media Office said.

Al Fahidi, on the Bur Dubai side of Dubai Creek, is home to museums, coffee shops and textile souqs. The famous gold and spice souqs are on the Deira side, a Dh1 boat journey across the creek.

The district is already home to several street-art projects, with the walls of its old buildings turned into canvasses for artists.

Further down the river another area, Al Seef, has undergone extensive modernisation after a long period of closure.

Al Fahidi street-art project to mark Hope Mars mission: in pictures

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  Artists Amna Basheer,left, and Reem Al Mazrouei work on their commission for Dubai Culture. They painted a “Hope mural” to celebrate the UAE Mars mission in Dubai’s Al Fahidi district. Reem Mohammed / The National

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  The mural can be found in Dubai's Al Fahidi neighbourhood. Reem Mohammed / The National

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  The completed mural by Reem Al Mazrouei and Amna Basheer, commissioned by Dubai Culture. Courtesy Dubai Culture

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  The artists worked with the team from consulting agency Art Painting Lab to complete the work. Reem Mohammed / The National

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  A sketch of the 'Hope' mural, which features a Emirati girl dressed in traditional garb and jewellery. Reem Mohammed / The National

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  Working with a team of painters, Basheer and Al Mazrouei completed the work in a week. Reem Mohammed / The National

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  Trained in fashion illustration, Amna Basheer initially worked in creating storyboards for films before experimenting with murals, which she grew to love. “Painting something really big and permanent is a good feeling,” she said. Reem Mohammed / The National

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  Focusing mostly on illustration, Reem Al Mazrouei, who is new to the art scene, studied visual art at Zayed University. In her work, she often borrows from the styles of surrealists and fantastical imagery. Her first artistic project took the form of a children’s book, for which she produced the illustrations. Reem Mohammed / The National

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  The image of the girl Amal adorned in traditional jewellery is a nod to Al Mazrouei’s Emirati background. “I tend to represent my culture in my drawings and characters. Though the mural has a contemporary look, I wanted it to have a traditional feeling,” she explained. Reem Mohammed / The National

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  The artists worked with the team from consulting agency Art Painting Lab to complete the work. Reem Mohammed / The National

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  The completed mural is five metres in length and was completed on Sunday, July 26. Courtesy Dubai Culture