Dubai Water Canal

The Dubai Water Canal realized a vision first conceived by HH Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum in 1959 - to deepen the Dubai Creek and enhance marine navigation. The completed canal extended the creek through the heart of the city, linking it to the Arabian Gulf. The project required extensive dredging, utility diversions, and innovative construction methods to minimize disruption in densely populated urban areas.

• Excavation and construction of a 3-kilometer-long canal

• Dredging of over 3.2 million cubic meters of soil

• Installation of 15,000 concrete blocks (each weighing 40 tonnes) to reinforce canal banks

• Diversion of underground utilities and services

• Construction of a deep sewerage system using NDRC (non-destructive road crossings) techniques

• Installation of a 3-km-long pipeline for hypersaline water treatment and discharge

• Preservation of natural habitats, including a protected flamingo area

• Engineering feat: The canal bed was dredged to depths of -4 to -6 meters, enabling the construction of quay walls and ensuring navigability.

• Urban integration: The project passed through high-profile residential zones and major traffic arteries. BESIX used trenchless technologies like directional drilling and micro-tunnelling to minimize surface disruption.

• Environmental responsibility: Hypersaline water from Business Bay lagoons was treated and safely discharged into the sea. The canal was re-flooded post-construction, and sensitive ecological zones, such as the flamingo habitat, were left undisturbed.

• Innovative sewerage strategy: The deep sewerage system was constructed using advanced trenchless methods, typically used for single crossings, but here applied over distances exceeding 100 meters.

• Legacy impact: The canal became a new urban landmark, enhancing Dubai’s waterway network and contributing to the city’s tourism and infrastructure landscape.