• The twisting design of Dubai Water Canal Bridge was praised by Conde Nast Traveller for "evoking the movement and motion when crossing from one bank to the other".
    The twisting design of Dubai Water Canal Bridge was praised by Conde Nast Traveller for "evoking the movement and motion when crossing from one bank to the other".
  • The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, Louisiana, USA. Getty
    The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, Louisiana, USA. Getty
  • Visitors walk along the 150-meter long Cau Vang Golden Bridge in the Ba Na Hills near Da Nang, Vietnam. AFP
    Visitors walk along the 150-meter long Cau Vang Golden Bridge in the Ba Na Hills near Da Nang, Vietnam. AFP
  • Chaotianmen Bridge in Chongqing municipality, China. Getty
    Chaotianmen Bridge in Chongqing municipality, China. Getty
  • Atlantic Ocean Road Bridge, near Molde, Norway. Getty
    Atlantic Ocean Road Bridge, near Molde, Norway. Getty
  • Bixby Bridge in Big Sur, California, USA. AP Photo
    Bixby Bridge in Big Sur, California, USA. AP Photo
  • The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco Bay, California, USA. AFP
    The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco Bay, California, USA. AFP
  • The Brooklyn Bridge, New York City, USA. AFP
    The Brooklyn Bridge, New York City, USA. AFP
  • The Glenfinnan Viaduct, in Glenfinnan, Scotland. Getty
    The Glenfinnan Viaduct, in Glenfinnan, Scotland. Getty
  • Landwasser Viaduct, between Schmitten and Filisur, Switzerland. AP Photo
    Landwasser Viaduct, between Schmitten and Filisur, Switzerland. AP Photo
  • The Rainbow Bridge, Qingdao, in China's eastern Shandong province. AFP
    The Rainbow Bridge, Qingdao, in China's eastern Shandong province. AFP

Transport

Dubai Water Canal Bridge named one of the most beautiful bridges in the world

Conde Naste Traveller magazine lists twisting structure among most stunning crossings

Neil Murphy
Neil Murphy

February 13, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

Dubai Water Canal Bridge has been named one of the most beautiful bridges in the world by Conde Nast Traveller.

The magazine put the unique footbridge alongside other eye-catching bridges , such as California's Golden Gate Bridge and the Glenfinnan Viaduct in Scotland.

The kaleidoscope-like walkway is notable for its aluminium-clad truss, which protects pedestrians from the sun's glare but still offers glimpses of the Dubai skyline.

Conde Nast Traveller said the unusual twisting design "evokes the movement and motion when crossing from one bank to the other".

The designers of the bridge say it is representative of the "future and the dynamic vision of Dubai", with pedestrians experiencing a "highly ethereal passage".

It is one of three footbridges that span the Dubai Water Canal project that was completed in the Jumeirah area in 2017.

Also included in the Conde Nast Traveller list is Vietnam's Golden Bridge, nestled in the Ba Na Hills near Da Nang.

The structure, made from fibreglass and wire mesh, features giant hands, designed to look like stone structures, holding the bridge in the air.

Other crossings include the eight-kilometre long Oresund Bridge, which connects Denmark to Sweden in the longest combined road and rail link in Europe.

Also featured is the Glenfinnan Viaduct located at the top of Loch Shiel in Scotland's western Highlands. It features in the Harry Potter films as the railway leading to Hogwarts.

Have you been targeted?

Tuan Phan of SimplyFI.org lists five signs you have been mis-sold to:

1. Your pension fund has been placed inside an offshore insurance wrapper with a hefty upfront commission.

2. The money has been transferred into a structured note. These products have high upfront, recurring commission and should never be in a pension account.

3. You have also been sold investment funds with an upfront initial charge of around 5 per cent. ETFs, for example, have no upfront charges.

4. The adviser charges a 1 per cent charge for managing your assets. They are being paid for doing nothing. They have already claimed massive amounts in hidden upfront commission.

5. Total annual management cost for your pension account is 2 per cent or more, including platform, underlying fund and advice charges.

Defence review at a glance

• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”

• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems

• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.

• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%

• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade

• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption. 

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks. 

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes. 

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion. 

8. Pillar 2 implementation 

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations. 

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity. 

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

The Way It Was: My Life with Frank Sinatra by Eliot Weisman and Jennifer Valoppi
Hachette Books

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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