The Dubai Canal guide: walks, views and Business Bay
The Dubai Water Canal turned Business Bay into a waterfront. Three of our addresses look over it — here is how to enjoy it on foot, by bike and from your balcony.
What is the Dubai Water Canal?
Opened in 2016, the Dubai Water Canal extends the historic Dubai Creek from Business Bay through Safa and Jumeirah to the Arabian Gulf, creating a continuous waterway around the old city. The new section, a little over three kilometres long, is lined with promenades, cycling paths and footbridges, and it passes under Sheikh Zayed Road on one of the city's most photographed bridges.
Staying on the canal
DAMAC Maison Canal Views stands on Marasi Drive, on the Business Bay canal belt, with a heated pool and jacuzzi on level three overlooking the water. DAMAC Maison Aykon City is on Sheikh Zayed Road where it meets the canal, with canal-view studios, one- and two-bedroom apartments, and a restaurant terrace over the water. Distinction and Cour Jardin are a few minutes away in Business Bay.
Canal-view apartments are especially beautiful at night, when the bridges and towers are lit and reflected in the water — see the One Bedroom Canal View at Aykon City or the Three Bedroom Suite Canal View.
Walking and running
The promenades along the canal are among the most pleasant places in Dubai for a walk or a run when the temperature allows, early in the morning or after sunset. Marasi Drive in Business Bay has a waterfront path with cafés, and from there you can follow the canal west towards Safa Park and Jumeirah. Wear comfortable shoes and carry water: distances add up quickly.
Cycling
Dedicated cycling tracks follow parts of the canal and connect with the wider Jumeirah network. Bikes can be rented through Dubai's public bike-share stations, using the app. In the cooler months, a morning ride from Business Bay to the beach at Jumeirah is one of the best free experiences in the city.
Where to eat along the water
At Aykon City, the Restaurant & Lounge serves all day with a terrace over the canal and the city, and the Poolside Café does lighter bites. At Canal Views, La Maison is the hotel's Mediterranean-themed restaurant with formal and casual dining. Along Marasi Drive and the Business Bay waterfront there are cafés for breakfast and coffee with a view of the water.
For a picnic-style evening, buy food from a supermarket and use your apartment kitchen and balcony: canal-view balconies are among the best seats in Business Bay at sunset.
The Sheikh Zayed Road bridge
Where the canal crosses Sheikh Zayed Road, a bridge carries the highway over the water, and an illuminated waterfall pours from it into the canal in the evening. It is a favourite subject for photographers; the footpaths on either bank give the best angle. Aykon City guests see it from the hotel's doorstep.
On the water
Water taxis and abras operate in Business Bay and along Dubai's waterways, and private boat tours depart from marinas along the canal. Services and timetables change, so ask the concierge for the current options before you go. For an evening on land, the canal-side terraces are the place to watch the skyline light up.
Best times to visit the canal
From November to March the canal is pleasant all day; from April to October, walk early in the morning or after sunset, when the promenades are lively and the bridges are lit. Weekend evenings are the busiest. Photographers should aim for the blue hour just after sunset, when the sky still has colour and the towers' lights are on.
Whichever season you visit, the canal is a few minutes from all our Business Bay addresses — compare them on the location page.
A canal walk, step by step
Start at Canal Views on Marasi Drive in the late afternoon and follow the waterfront path west. After the Business Bay towers, the canal opens out and the footbridges offer views back towards Downtown and Burj Khalifa. Continue to the Sheikh Zayed Road bridge for sunset and stay for the waterfall lights, then take a taxi back — or, if you are staying at Aykon City, you are already home.
Allow around an hour at an easy pace, more if you stop for coffee and photographs. In summer, do the same walk after dark when the temperature drops.
Before you set out, check the weather and the day's sunset time, wear a hat in the warmer months and keep a phone with maps handy: the promenades are well marked, but the canal crosses several districts and it is easy to walk further than planned. Our concierge can suggest the best route from your hotel and book a car for the way back.
