I didn't expect the city to rearrange itself so neatly from the air. Helicopter ride Dubai proposal On the ground, Dubai is all momentum and mirrors-lanes of traffic, glass that catches the sun, desert light that makes everything look like a promise. But from the helicopter, it turns into geometry. I booked the tour because, like half the internet, I'd typed “helicopter ride Dubai instagram experience” into a search bar and fallen into a scroll of palm-shaped islands and glimmering skylines. What I found, though, was more intimate than the spectacle I'd imagined.
The experience begins on the ground with the ordinary: a check-in desk, a quick weigh-in, a safety video that compresses decades of aviation into a few calm minutes. There's the rustle of seat belts, the non-negotiable instruction to keep everything inside the aircraft, and the mild anxiety of wondering if the seat gods will put you by a window. The lounge smells faintly of coffee and jet fuel. People are half-talking about where they're from and half-plotting the shots they want. Someone asks the staff if the pilot will circle the Burj Khalifa twice. A teenager holds up a phone to test angles in a room with no views.
Then the door slides open and the heat moves around you in a wave. The helicopter is smaller than it looks in your imagination and larger than it feels when you're strapped in. The headsets go on, turning the world into a private movie with a soundtrack of rotor thrum and your own breath. The pilot's voice-professional, almost cozy-threads through the noise, and suddenly the ground falls away in a very gentle, very specific kind of magic. Your stomach does its little rollercoaster dip, the horizon widens, and the city starts to explain itself.
First, the shock of the water. The Gulf is a color that would look fake if you tried to paint it, though some mornings a thin veil of haze turns it into a soft postcard.
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The Palm is the show-off you expect, but from above it's less about the icon and more about the order-fronds, crescents, a geometry lesson laid politely on the sea.
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Atlantis sits at the end like a punctuation mark. If your route includes the coastline, the beaches are pale commas, traced with joggers and umbrellas that you'd never spot without a zoom lens.
Then there's the line of Sheikh Zayed Road, a spine of motion, glass towers crowded like tall, elegant spectators. The Burj Khalifa pierces the sky so casually it almost feels normal, until you realize your pilot has given you an extra few seconds on the slow side so everyone can stare. Cars look like toys, fountains like sketches. If the light is right, you can see the world islands scattered like an architect's daydream. If it's a clear day, the desert's flat gold holds steady in the background, a reminder of where all of this began.
The Instagram part is real, of course. We're all toggling between awe and airplane mode, trying to decide if a slow pan or a burst is the better idea. The cabin windows curve, which means you learn quickly to press your lens close to the glass to avoid reflections. Wear darker clothing; it helps cut the glare on your shots. If you can, book a morning slot-crisper air, gentler shadows, and less thermal haze. Golden hour flights, when available, are a poem; midday is for the bold and well-filtered. Helicopter ride Dubai panoramic views Turn off your flash. Use burst mode as you pass alt landmarks because a helicopter doesn't pause for your caption.
There are small tricks that make your “helicopter ride Dubai Instagram experience” both more beautiful and more human. Ask the staff politely, when you check in, if there's any flexibility on seating; sometimes they can accommodate a window preference. Don't press your elbows or phone into your neighbor's space just to get a frame; you'll get your moments. Video loves motion-track the sweep of the Palm or let the skyline drift from the edge of the frame into the center. If you can, keep one clip with the rotor sound unmuted. That thwop-thwop-thwop is part of the story your photos can't tell.
Most of the good stuff, though, isn't in the obvious shots. It's in the way the pilot's hands rest lightly on the controls, the wash of light across someone's cheek behind their headset, the square of your own reflection faint on the window before you press the phone closer and it vanishes. It's the moment you lower the camera and look with your eyes because you remember this is a first, and firsts are rare. It's the heat that greets you again when the doors slide open after landing, the oddly cheerful fatigue that follows adrenaline, the hunger for lunch, the ridiculous number of almost-identical photos you swear you'll delete and never do.
There is also the practical truth: a helicopter ride in Dubai is a splurge. You feel that in your bones as you taxi back toward the helipad, because riding above a city like this is saying yes to both spectacle and expense. The value comes not just from the vantage point but from the reframing-Dubai takes on a different logic from the air. You can see how ambition becomes landscape here. You can see what the sea meant to the city before the skyline was a skyline, and how the desert sits as both boundary and invitation.
Later, when you sift through your camera roll, the photographs are almost too sharp. You soften them a bit. You pick a few-one big, obvious hero shot and a handful of details. You write a caption that's less about “look at this” and more about “this is how it felt.” You tag the operator because good pilots deserve credit, and you drop a couple of location tags for the friends who will ask where to book. You try a Reel with the rotor's rhythm on a beat and a quiet Story with a single line of text: worth it.
Was it? Yes. Not because it turned into likes, though it probably will, but because the ride made a place you thought you understood tilt into a new angle. Dubai is a city engineered to be seen, and the helicopter reminds you that seeing is a practice, not just a snap. Helicopter ride Dubai aerial photography . For thirty minutes or so, you held the city in your palm and let it surprise you. And that, online or off, is the best kind of experience to share.
The Palm Jumeirah (Arabic: نخلة جميرا) is an archipelago of artificial islands on the Persian Gulf in Jumeirah, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It is part of a larger series of developments called the Palm Islands, including Palm Jebel Ali and the Dubai Islands, which, when completed, will together increase Dubai's shoreline by a total of 520 kilometres (320 mi).[3] It has a population of over 25,000[4] as of 2022.[5]
The islands were created using land reclamation. They were created to resemble a palm tree when seen from the air, and are roughly divided into three areas: "trunk", "fronds", and "outer crescent". The trunk is a mixed commercial and residential area, the fronds are reserved for residential homes and villas, while the outer crescent is used for luxury and upscale resorts.[6]
The Palm Jumeirah was constructed by a Dutch specialist dredging company, Van Oord. The same company also created The World Islands.
Construction
[edit]
The Palm Jumeirah Dubai, Villas on a frondThe Palm Jumeirah Dubai's frondThe Palm Jumeirah Dubai aerial view on 5 January 2013Shoreline Beach in The Palm Jumeirah Dubai
Construction of The Palm Jumeirah Dubai island began in June 2001 and the developers announced handover of the first residential units in 2006.[7]
In October 2007, 75% of the properties were ready to hand over, with 500 families already residing on the island.[8] By the end of 2009, 28 hotels were opened on the Crescent.[8]
In 2009, The New York Times reported that NASA's laser altimeter satellites had measured the Palm as sinking at the rate of 5 mm (0.20 in) per year.[9] In response the developer, Nakheel Properties said they had received no reports of structural problems of a type that would be expected if there were any subsidence, and pointed out that the laser satellites had a measurement resolution of only 50 mm (2.0 in).[10]
Transportation
[edit]
The Palm Jumeirah Dubai's Monorail
The Palm Jumeirah Monorail is a 5.4-kilometre-long (3.4 mi) monorail connecting the Atlantis Hotel to the Gateway Towers at the foot of the island.[11][12] The monorail connects The Palm Jumeirah Dubai to the mainland, with a planned further extension to the Red Line of the Dubai Metro.[13] The line began operating on 30 April 2009.[14] It is the first monorail in the Middle East.[15]
Environment
[edit]
According to a study published in the journal Water in 2022, the construction of this island has had an effect on increasing water-soluble materials, changing the spectral profile of water and also increasing the temperature of the water surface around the island.[16]
The outer breakwater was designed as a continuous barrier, but by preventing natural tidal movement, the seawater within the Palm became stagnant. The breakwater was subsequently modified to create gaps on either side, allowing tidal movement to oxygenate the water within and prevent it from stagnating, albeit less efficiently than would be the case if the breakwater did not exist.[17][18]
In the summer seasons, jellyfish frequent the beaches surrounding the Palm.[19] In early 2020, due to the reduction of human activity during the COVID-19 pandemic, an increase in wildlife, such as dolphins, around The Palm Jumeirah was observed.[20]
Housing density
[edit]
After launching the project, it was revealed that the developer increased the number of residential units on the island (with a concomitant reduction in the amount of physical space between individual properties) from the originally announced 4,500 (comprising 2,000 villas purchased early in the expectation of greater separation between properties[21]). This increase was attributed to the developer miscalculating the actual cost of construction and requiring the raising of additional capital, although they had never commented publicly on the matter.[citation needed]The New York Times reported in 2009 that many people had bought houses before they were built and are furious about the space available now and the way they seem to be living on top of each other.[9]
Residential properties
[edit]
Palm Jumeirah has a varied array of buildings, ranging from townhouses to hotels to apartments and villas. The apartments are mostly concentrated on the Trunk, while the Fronds are bordered with villas.
Apartments range in size from 375 to 11,774 square feet (34.8 to 1,093.8 m2), from studios to 6-bedroom layouts. Each apartment normally has a large living space, en-suite bathrooms, fitted kitchens, and balconies or patios.
The community has villas with sizes between 4,000 and 35,000 square feet (370 and 3,250 m2) ranging from 2 to 10 bedrooms. There is direct beach access from these villas, which range in style from classic Arabic designs to modern high-tech alternatives.[22]
Notable residents
[edit]
Grigory Anikeev, one of the wealthiest deputies of the Russian State Duma, bought a $13 million penthouse apartment in the Serenia Residences of Palm Jumeirah in March 2022, shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[23]
Mykola Zlochevskiy, a Ukrainian oil and natural gas businessman and oligarch who was Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources in the Viktor Yanukovych administration, owns two apartments in the W Residences worth $11 million.[24] Ukrainian authorities accused Zlochevskiy of embezzlement, leading him to plead guilty while transferring ownership of the properties to his daughter.[24]
Balvinder Singh Sahni, Indian businessman[25]
Joseph Johannes Leijdekkers, a Dutchman who goes by the name 'Chubby Jos', and is on European Union's Most Wanted List for alleged narcotics trafficking, is a resident in the Grandeur Residences of Palm Jumeirah.[26]
Danilo Vunjao Santana Gouveia, a Brazilian who goes by Dubaiano, and was indicted in Brazil for fraud and moneylaundering in relation to a Bitcoin pyramid scheme, is a resident in the Palm Tower Dubai.[26][27]
Obaid Khanani, a Pakistani national who was sanctioned by the U.S. in 2016 for alleged moneylaundering for drug traffickers and organized crime groups, is a resident in Five Palm Jumeirah.[27]
The ruling Aliyev family of Azerbaijan owns multiple properties in the Palm Jumeirah.[28][29]
Samuele Landi, an Italian fugitive businessperson, owns a villa in the Palm Jumeirah.[30]
Rasul Danialzadeh, an Iranian steel magnate sentenced to 16 years in prison for bribery, owns a villa in the Palm Jumeirah.[31]
Hotels and resorts
[edit]
As of 2024, The Palm Jumeirah Dubai has around 30 hotels, located in the trunk and outer crescent of the palm.
^"Palm Jumeirah". Visit Dubai. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
^"The Palm Jumeirah". thepalm.ae. 2006. Archived from the original on 17 February 2007. Retrieved 11 February 2007.
^ ab"Dubai's Palm and World Islands – progress update". AMEInfo. 4 October 2007. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 28 October 2007.
^ abLaid-Off Foreigners Flee as Dubai Spirals Down, The New York Times, 11 February 2009
^"Nakheel: Palm Jumeirah is 'not sinking' – Real Estate". Arabian Business. ArabianBusiness.com. 9 December 2009. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
^Nice and Easy, but Fares Not So Fair
^"Home". palmmonorail.com.
^"Middle East's first monorail to start services in Palm Jumeirah by April". Gulf News. 7 August 2008. Archived from the original on 16 July 2009. Retrieved 11 August 2008.
^"Palm monorail tried and tested – The Knowledge News". Time Out Dubai. TimeOutDubai.com. 6 May 2009. Retrieved 27 August 2010.
^"ME's 1st monorail to begin services in April". MENAFN.com. 8 August 2008. Archived from the original on 11 June 2011. Retrieved 11 August 2008.
^Mansourmoghaddam, Mohammad (January 2022). "Mansourmoghaddam M, Ghafarian Malamiri HR, Rousta I, Olafsson H, Zhang H. Assessment of Palm Jumeirah Island's Construction Effects on the Surrounding Water Quality and Surface Temperatures during 2001–2020. Water. 2022; 14(4):634. doi.org/10.3390/w14040634". Water. 14 (4): 634. doi:10.3390/w14040634.
^"Palm Island Dubai FAQ".
^"MegaStructures – National Geographic Channel episode guide". Archived from the original on 24 November 2005.
^"Jellyfish along UAE coastline". Ecocoast. 15 August 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
^"Rays, sharks, and dolphins enjoy new freedom as humans retreat from the oceans". 29 April 2020.
^Moye, Catherine (20 August 2005). "Palm before a storm?". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 20 October 2007. Retrieved 21 May 2010.
^Palm Jumeirah Area Guides, Bayut.com, 27 August 2024
^"Russians bought up $6.3 billion in Dubai property after 2022 Ukraine invasion, report finds – ICIJ". 22 May 2024.
^ abOvsyaniy, Kyrylo; Andrushko, Serhiy; Tolstyakova, Kira (17 May 2024). "Dubai Unlocked: How Yanukovych-Era Ukrainian Officials Poured Millions Into Secretive U.A.E. Real Estate". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
^"Who is Balwinder Singh Sahni, Indian billionaire jailed for money laundering in Dubai?". News18. 10 May 2025.
^ abReport (14 May 2024). "Global players feature in Dubai property leaks". Dawn. Pakistan.
^ ab"How Dirty Money Finds a Home in Dubai Real Estate – OCCRP". How Dirty Money Finds a Home in Dubai Real Estate – OCCRP. 2024.
^"How Dirty Money Finds a Home in Dubai Real Estate: Leyla, Arzu, and Heydar Aliyev". How Dirty Money Finds a Home in Dubai Real Estate – OCCRP. 14 May 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
^"How Dirty Money Finds a Home in Dubai Real Estate – OCCRP". How Dirty Money Finds a Home in Dubai Real Estate – OCCRP. 14 May 2024.
^Abrahamian, Atossa Araxia (7 January 2025). "A Fugitive Businessman, Done In by One Law He Couldn't Dodge". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331.
^"Convicts, Wealthy Iranians With State Ties Implicated In Leaked Property Data". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. 2024.
^"Dukes the Palm, a Royal Hideaway Hotel | Luxury hotel in Palm Jumeirah".
^"First look: Aloft opens first hotel in Dubai". 21 January 2018.
^"Visit Atlantis the Royal now: New massive hotel opens on Dubai's Palm Jumeirah after grand reveal – Arabian Business: Latest News on the Middle East, Real Estate, Finance, and More". Arabian Business. 10 February 2023.
^"Th8 Palm Dubai Beach Resort". th8palmdubai.com.
^"Th8 Palm Beach Resort review: Dubai hotel has family-friendly facilities and ocean views". The National. 15 July 2025.
^"Waldorf Astoria Palm Jumeirah set for January opening in Dubai". GulfNews.com. 27 December 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
^"Nakheel Mall on Dubai's Palm Jumeirah to open on 28 November 2019". nakheel.com. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
External links
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to The Palm Jumeirah Dubai.
Total 24 kilometres (15 mi) of which natural length is 14 kilometres (8.7 mi)
North end
Al Shindagha
South end
Beach of Jumeirah
Dubai Creek (Arabic: خُوْر دُبَيّ, romanized: Khūr Dubayy) is a natural saltwater creek in Dubai. It extends about 9 miles (14 km) inwards and forms a natural port that has traditionally been used for trade and transport.[1] The creek ranges from 200 to 1,200 metres (660 to 3,940 ft) in width while the average depth is about 6.5 to 7 metres (21 to 23 ft). Previously, it extended to Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary but as part of the new Business Bay Canal and Dubai Canal, it extends a further 13 km (8.1 mi)[2] to the Persian Gulf.[3]
In the 1950s, extensive development of the creek began, including dredging and construction of breakwaters. A number of bridges allow movement of vehicles across the creek while abras are used as taxis. The banks and route alongside the creek houses notable government, business and residential areas. A number of tourist locations and hotels are situated along the creek. The Dubai Creek, a vital waterway in the heart of the city, plays a significant role in Dubai's growth by handling the passage of more than 13,000 ships annually. As a major artery for maritime trade, it supports the city's commercial operations. Enhancements to the Creek's infrastructure are being made through a project aimed at improving safety and security measures for maritime traffic and commercial activities. These improvements are expected to strengthen the city's role as a regional hub for trade and ensure smoother, more secure operations for the numerous ships passing through each year.[4]
History
[edit]
See also: History of Dubai and History of the United Arab Emirates
The creek in 1964
The creek in 2007
Historically, the creek divided the city into two main sections – Deira and Bur Dubai. It was along the Bur Dubai creek area that members of the Bani Yas tribe first settled in the 19th century, establishing the Al Maktoum dynasty in the city.[5] In the early 20th century, the creek, though incapable then of supporting large scale transportation, served as a minor port for dhows coming from as far away as India or East Africa. Although it impeded the entry of ships due to current flow, the creek remained an important element in establishing the commercial position of Dubai, being the only port or harbour in the city.[6] Dubai's pearling industry, which formed the main sector of the city's economy, was based primarily on expeditions in the creek, prior to the invention of cultured pearls in the 1930s. Fishing, also an important industry at the time, was also based along the creek, whose warm and shallow waters supported a wide variety of marine life. Dhows used for purposes of fishing were also built on the foreshore of the creek.[7]
The importance of the creek as a site of commercial activity was a justification to introduce improvements to allow larger vessels to transit, as well as to facilitate loading and unloading activities. This led, in 1955, to a plan to develop the creek, which involved dredging shallow areas, building of breakwaters, and developing its beach to become a quay suitable for loading and unloading of cargo.[8] The creek was first dredged in 1961 to permit 7-foot (2.1 m) draft vessels to cross through the creek at all times.[9] The creek was dredged again in the 1960s and 1970s so that it could offer anchorage for local and coastal shipping of up to about 500 tons.[10] The dredging opened up the creek to much more continuous traffic of merchandise, including the development of re-export, and gave Dubai an advantage over Sharjah, the other dominant trading centre in the region at the time.[10]
Al Maktoum Bridge, the first bridge connecting Bur Dubai and Deira was constructed in 1963. Although the importance of the creek as a port has diminished with the development of the Jebel Ali Port, smaller facilities, such as Port Saeed, continue to exist along the creek, providing porting to traders from the region and the subcontinent.
2000s
[edit]
NBD headquarters along the Dubai Creek
In September 2007, a Dhs. 484 million (US$ 132 million) extension of the creek was finished, which now ends just south of the Metropolitan Hotel and projects on Shaikh Zayed Road. A final 2.2-kilometre extension, called the Dubai Water Canal was inaugurated 9 November 2016, crossing Shaikh Zayed Road in a northerly route, passing through Safa Park and then through Jumeirah 2. The channel is expected to continue through Jumeirah Beach Park where it will reach the shores of the Persian Gulf.[11] The extension is part of the Dubai's Business Bay development. Additionally, a new project consisting of seven islands known as Dubai Creek Harbour was proposed to be built on Dubai Creek. The centerpiece of this project would be the Dubai Creek Tower, which is set to become the tallest building in the world. Three additional bridges are being planned for Dubai Creek, which are the Seventh Crossing, the Al Shindagha Bridge, and the Fifth Bridge.[12][13]
The Dubai Festival City Mall on Dubai Creek opened in 2007. Mohammed Bin Rashid Library is being built in the Al Jaddaf area on the Creek. Dhows are constructed in this area too on the bankside. The Green Line of the Dubai Metro terminates at the Dubai Creek metro station. Close to this metro station is the Al Jaddaf Marine Station, operating ferries on the Creek, including across the Creek to the Dubai Festival City Mall.
The Dubai Creek Harbour development is set to launch in 2025, home to Dubai Creek Tower, with residential units and parks constructed.[14]
Route
[edit]
Original
[edit]
The creek's initial inlet into mainland Dubai is along the areas of Deira Corniche and Al Ras in eastern Dubai and along the area of Al Shindagha in western Dubai. It then progresses south-eastward through the mainland, passing through Port Saeed and Dubai Creek Park. The creek's natural ending is at the Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) from its origin at the Persian Gulf. The traditional form of transport between the eastern and western sections of Dubai via the creek was through abras, which continue to operate in Dubai. In addition, the eastern and western sections are linked via four bridges (Al Maktoum Bridge, Al Garhoud Bridge, Business Bay Crossing, and Floating Bridge) and one tunnel (Al Shindagha Tunnel).
Original route of Dubai Creek is highlighted in blue. The new extension is highlighted in red.
Coast of Dubai from the International Space Station. Dubai Creek is visible.
Dubai International Airport and Dubai Creek figure prominently in this photograph from the International Space Station.
Extensions
[edit]
Image of part of the creek extension captured from near the south end (at
The creek has been extended by 13 km (8.1 mi) through Business Bay, Dubai Canal and through Jumeirah into the Arabian Gulf.
Landmarks
[edit]
Buildings and structures along Dubai creek. Hover and click on the map and then on the points for details.
Including the most remarkable buildings alongside the Deira side of the Creek are the Deira Twin Towers, the old Dubai Creek Tower, Sheraton Dubai Creek, National Bank of Dubai, and Chamber of Commerce.[15] On the other side of Al Maktoum Bridge along Dubai Creek is Dubai Creek Park, one of the largest parks in Dubai.[16]
The creek is also home to the Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, comprising an 18-hole tournament golf course, clubhouses, residential development, and the Park Hyatt hotel.
Crossings
[edit]
Present crossings, in order from northwest to southeast
Al Shindagha Tunnel
Al Maktoum Bridge
Floating Bridge (temporary; to be replaced by the "Dubai Smile" in the future)
Al Garhoud Bridge
Business Bay Crossing
Infinity Bridge
Future/planned crossings
Dubai Smile (to replace the Floating Bridge)
Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Crossing (to link Al Jaddaf and Bur Dubai)
Ports and marinas
[edit]
Port Saeed
Abra station in Deira
Port Saeed
Dubai Creek Harbour
Al Jaddaf Marine Station
Business Bay Marina
References
[edit]
^Gupte 2011, p. 76.
^Hammad 2019, p. 101–102.
^
Karanam, Sankarbabu; Juma, Ibrahim Mohammad; AlHarmoudi, Alya Abdulrahim; Yang, Zongyan (30 December 2018). "Hydrodynamics of Extended Dubai Creek System". Coastal Engineering Proceedings (36). Proceedings of 36th Conference on Coastal Engineering, Baltimore, Maryland, 2018: 25. doi:10.9753/icce.v36.currents.25 (inactive 12 July 2025). S2CID 188648755. Retrieved 10 October 2021.cite journal: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of July 2025 (link)
^Abdulla, Nasreen. "Dubai announces Dh112 million Creek restoration project to prevent potential flooding". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
^Dubai. T. Carter, L Dunston. Lonely Planet. 2006
^Doing Business with the United Arab Emirates. Terterov, Marat. GMB Publishing Ltd. 2006
^"Dubai - Modern History" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 October 2011. (47.0 KB). Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing. Government of Dubai
^Doing Business with the United Arab Emirates. Terterov, Marat. GMB Publishing Ltd. 2006
^Ruling Shaikhs and Her Majesty's Government, 1960-1969. Joyce, Miriam. Routledge. 2003
^ abNegotiating Change: The New Politics of the Middle East. Jones, Jeremy. IB Tauris. 2007
^Derek Baldwin (27 September 2007). "Dubai Creek: It Just Got Longer". XPRESS.
^Ahmed, Ashfaq (6 November 2009). "Floating Bridge will stay till 2014". Gulf News.
^"Dubai Traffic, Architecture & Creek Bridges". ciio.unab.edu.co. Archived from the original on 23 February 2014. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
^P, Devadasan K. (1 August 2025). "Dubai Creek in the 1950s: A glimpse into global city's humble beginnings". Gulf News: Latest UAE news, Dubai news, Business, travel news, Dubai Gold rate, prayer time, cinema. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
^Dubai Creek Gigapixel Archived 16 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Highly detailed view of the Creek on a length of 3 km from Al Sabkha Rd to Chamber of Commerce.
^"Dubai Creek Park", capturedubai.com, 29 March 2015. Retrieved on 30 March 2015.
Bibliography
Hammad, Ahmed (June 2019). "Business Bay – Dubai Creek Extension -Construction Management, Challenges and Results. Part II – Project Details" (PDF). Journal of Engineering and Architecture. 7 (1): 100–109. doi:10.15640/jea.v7n1a11 (inactive 12 July 2025). eISSN 2334-2994. ISSN 2334-2986. S2CID 191180349. Archived from the original on 6 March 2020.cite journal: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of July 2025 (link)
Gupte, Pranay (2011). Dubai: The Making of a Megapolis. Viking. Penguin Books India. ISBN 9780670085170.
Further reading
[edit]
Ahmad Makia (April 2015) "Dubai Creek as an Island City-State: Free Zones, Canals, and City Doppelgängers." Avery Review:7
Dubai Creek Harbour== External links ==
Dubai Creek at Wikipedia's sister projects
Media from Commons
Data from Wikidata
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About Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
Mosque in Abu Dhabi, the U.A.E.
"Sheikh Zayed Mosque" redirects here. For other uses, see Sheikh Zayed Mosque (disambiguation).
Location within the Middle East
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Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
جَامِع ٱلشَّيْخ زَايِد ٱلْكَبِيْر
View of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque from the courtyard, 2018
Religion
Affiliation
Islam
Location
Location
Abu Dhabi
Country
United Arab Emirates
Location within the UAE
Show map of United Arab Emirates
Coordinates24°24′43.2″N54°28′26.4″E / 24.412000°N 54.474000°E / 24.412000; 54.474000ArchitectureArchitectYusef AbdelkiStyleIslamicGroundbreaking1996Completed2007Construction costDhs2 billion (US$545 million)SpecificationsCapacity41,000+Length420 m (1,380 ft)Width290 m (950 ft)Dome82 domes of 7 different sizesDome height (outer)85 m (279 ft)Dome dia. (outer)32.2 m (106 ft)Minaret4Minaret height104 m (341 ft)Website
مركز جامع الشيخ زايد الكبير
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque (Arabic: جَامِع ٱلشَّيْخ زَايِد ٱلْكَبِيْرJāmiʿ Aš-Šaykh Zāyid Al-Kabīr) is a mosque located in Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the United Arab Emirates.[1] It is the country's largest mosque, and is the key place of worship for daily Islamic prayers. There is a smaller replica of this mosque in Surakarta, a city in Indonesia.[2]
The Grand Mosque was constructed between 1994 and 2007 and was inaugurated in December 2007.[3] The building complex measures approximately 290 by 420 m (950 by 1,380 ft), covering an area of more than 12 hectares (30 acres), excluding exterior landscaping and vehicle parking. The main axis of the building is rotated about 12° south of true west, aligning it in the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
The project was launched by the late president of the U.A.E., Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who wanted to establish a structure that would unite the cultural diversity of the Islamic world with the historical and modern values of architecture and art.[4] In 2004, Sheikh Zayed died and was buried in the courtyard of the mosque.
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center (SZGMC) offices are located in the west minarets. SZGMC manages the day-to-day operations and serves as a center of learning and discovery through its educational cultural activities and visitor programs. The library, located in the northeast minaret, serves the community with classic books and publications addressing a range of Islamic subjects: sciences, civilization, calligraphy, the arts, and coins, including some rare publications. The collection comprises material in a broad range of languages, including Arabic, English, French, Italian, Spanish, German, and Korean. For two years running, it was voted the world's second favourite landmark by TripAdvisor.[5]
The Grand Mosque has been a significant destination for visiting foreign leaders during official state visits to the UAE. Notable visitors include Elizabeth II,[6] the then US Vice President Joe Biden[7] and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.[8]
Design and construction
[edit]
The mosque was built under the guidance and supervision of Sheikh Zayed, who was buried here after his death in 2004. It features 82 domes, more than 1,000 columns, 24-carat-gold gilded chandeliers and the world's largest hand-knotted carpet. The main prayer hall is dominated by one of the largest chandeliers. The mosque was designed under the management of the Syrian architect Youssef Abdelke, and three other architectural designers from Syria who completed the design and worked on developing it, Basem Barghouti, Moataz Al-Halabi, and Imad Malas.[9]
The mosque's architect Yusef Abdelki took inspiration from a number of sources: the Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi Mosque in Alexandria, designed by Mario Rossi in the 1920s;[10] the Badshahi Mosque in Lahore, Pakistan;[11] and other references of Persian, Mughal, and Indo-Islamic architecture. The dome layout and floorplan of the mosque was inspired by the Badshahi Mosque. Its archways are quintessentially Moorish, and its minarets classically Arab.
In a joint-venture between Italian contractors Impregilo and Rizzani de Eccher, more than 3,000 workers and 38 sub-contracting companies were conscripted in its construction. The mosque was completed under a second contract by a Joint Venture between ACC and Six Construct (part of Belgian company BESIX Group) between 2004 and 2007.[12][13][14] Natural materials were chosen for much of its design and construction due to their long-lasting qualities, including marble stone, gold, semi-precious stones, crystals and ceramics. Artisans and materials came from many countries including Syria, especially from Damascus and Aleppo, and some other countries such as India, Italy, Germany, Turkey, Pakistan, Malaysia, Iran, China, United Kingdom, New Zealand, North Macedonia and the U.A.E.[citation needed] The intricate flower mosaics decorating the courtyard was designed by the British artist Kevin Dean, who embraced Sheikh Zayed’s passionate vision to create a mosque that unites the world, as he chose flowers from the Middle East, such as Tulips, Lilys, and Irises. As inlays of colored marble form exuberant floral patterns that curl and twist gracefully from the edges towards the center adorn the courtyard. While the rest of the Sahan was inlaid with thousands of small pieces of white marble.
Dimensions and statistics
[edit]
The mosque is large enough to accommodate over 40,100 worshippers, while the main prayer hall can hold over 7,000. There are two smaller prayer halls, with a capacity of 1,500 each, one of which is the women's prayer hall.[1]
There are four minarets on the four corners of the courtyard which rise about 107 m (351 ft) in height. The courtyard, with its floral design, measures about 17,000 m2 (180,000 sq ft), and is considered to be the largest example of marble mosaic in the world.[1] The exterior and interior are adorned with white marble, giving the mosque a serene and majestic appearance. The marble is inlaid with precious stones like lapis lazuli, carnelian, amethyst, abalone shell, and mother of pearl.
Marble used in the construction included:
Sivec from Prilep, North Macedonia was used on the external cladding (115,119 m2 (1,239,130 sq ft) of cladding has been used on the mosque, including the minarets)
Lasa from Laas, South Tyrol, Italy was used in the internal elevations
Makrana from Makrana, India was used in the annexes and offices
Acquabianca and Bianco P from Italy
East White and Ming Green from China[1]
To compare, the King Faisal Mosque of Sharjah, formerly the largest mosque in Sharjah[15] and country, measures 10,000–12,000 m2 (110,000–130,000 sq ft).[16][17]
Architectural features
[edit]
The carpet in the hall is considered by many [by whom?] to be the world's largest carpet made by Iran's Carpet Company and designed by Iranian artist Ali Khaliqi.[18] It measures 5,627 m2 (60,570 sq ft), and was made by around 1,200-1,300 carpet knotters. The weight of this carpet is 35 ton and is predominantly made from wool (originating from New Zealand and Iran). There are 2,268,000,000 knots within the carpet and it took approximately two years to complete.[1]
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Chandelier
The Grand Mosque has seven imported chandeliers from the company Faustig in Munich, Germany that incorporate millions of Swarovski crystals. The largest chandelier is the second largest known chandelier inside a mosque, the third largest in the world,[clarification needed] and has a 10 m (33 ft) diameter and a 15 m (49 ft) height.[1]
The pools along the arcades reflect the mosque's columns, which become illuminated at night. The unique lighting system was designed by lighting architects Speirs and Major Associates to reflect the phases of the moon. Beautiful bluish gray clouds are projected in lights onto the external walls and get brighter and darker according to the phase of the moon.[19]
The 96 columns in the main prayer hall are clad with marble and inlaid with mother of pearl, one of the few places where one can see this craftsmanship.[citation needed]
The 99 names (qualities or attributes) of God (Allah) are featured on the Qibla wall in traditional Kufic calligraphy, designed by the prominent UAE calligrapher — Mohammed Mandi Al Tamimi. The Qibla wall also features subtle fibre-optic lighting, which is integrated as part of the organic design.
In total, three calligraphy styles — Naskhi, Thuluth and Kufic — are used throughout the mosque and were drafted by Mohammed Mandi Al Tamimi of the UAE, Farouk Haddad of Syria and Mohammed Allam of Jordan.[1]
View from Wahat Al Karama
Exterior
Water mirror and columns
Inner courtyard with minaret
Interior of the main prayer hall
The mosque in 2022
The mosque at night
Outside of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque (left)
Mosque walkway
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque At Night
See also
[edit]
List of mosques in the United Arab Emirates
List of cultural property of national significance in the United Arab Emirates
Qasr Al Watan
The Founder's Memorial
Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque
Sheikh Zayed Mosque, Fujairah
Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan's Mosque in Stockholm, Sweden
Emir Abdelkader Mosque
References
[edit]
^ abcdefg
"Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi". www.szgmc.ae.
^"President Sheikh Mohamed attends inauguration of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Indonesia: Mosque is almost identical to the original in Abu Dhabi". The National. 2022-11-14. Retrieved 2022-11-15.
^"Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque". Abu Dhabi Government. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
^"Sheikh Zayed Mosque, Abu Dhabi". Wondermondo.
^The National staff (27 May 2017). "Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque ranked the world's second favourite landmark | The National". Retrieved 28 May 2017.
^"The Queen's visit to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque", gov.uk, retrieved 2025-04-16
^"AP", newsroom.ap.org, retrieved 2024-10-04
^"PM Modi Visits Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi". NDTV.com. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
^"9 Most Famous Buildings in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah That Put the UAE on the World Map". AD Middle East. 2023-12-02. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
^"7 Facts You Must Know About Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque". MSN News. 12 March 2021.
^Vanessa Chiasson (15 November 2019). "8 Of The Most Beautiful Places In Abu Dhabi". Travel Awaits.
^"Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque". Accsal. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
^"Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Marbled architectural splendor". Besix. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
^"Infrastructure boost". Gulf Construction Online. 2004-08-01.
^"A look at the magnificent mosques of the UAE". Khaleej Times. 2015-07-01. Retrieved 2019-08-15.
^Al Qassemi, Sultan Sooud (2017-11-16). "Demystifying Sharjah's iconic King Faisal Mosque". Gulf News. Retrieved 2019-08-15.
^Kakande, Yasin (2011-08-11). "Sharjah's mosque where the faithful can listen and learn". The National. Sharjah. Retrieved 2019-08-15.
^"Iran weaves world's largest carpet". Web India 123. 2007-07-28.
^Marinho, Carlos André (2023-10-21). "Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque". MuseumsOnTheRoad.com. Retrieved 2025-12-04.
External links
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sheikh Zayed Mosque.
The Official Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center website
The Official Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority website
Shah, Pino (2020-03-14). Rood, Carrie (compiler) (ed.). Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque: Heaven's Waiting Room. Vol. 1 (of World Heritage Series). Pharr, Texas, the U.S.A.: ArtByPino.com. ISBN 978-0-9979-9844-3. Retrieved 2020-07-09.
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Awesome Helicopter tour of Dubai and the world Islands. We got to see everything we wanted to see. Tour left on time and everything was very organized.
We booked this as a surprise for my son's birthday and we nailed it - he loved the thrill of the helicopter ride itself, but also the spectacular views from above. The pilot was very friendly and knowledgeable. We learned so much more about Abu Dhabi than we would have ever done from walking around - and the views from above of the Mosque and of the palaces are unmatched.It is MUST experience in Abu Dhabi.
Helicopter Ride and Tours Dubai, Al Warsan Building - near Media Rotana, Ground Floor - Al Thanyah First - Barsha Heights - Dubai - United Arab Emirates
Helicopter Ride and Tours Dubai, Al Warsan Building - near Media Rotana, Ground Floor - Al Thanyah First - Barsha Heights - Dubai - United Arab Emirates
Helicopter Ride and Tours Dubai, Al Warsan Building - near Media Rotana, Ground Floor - Al Thanyah First - Barsha Heights - Dubai - United Arab Emirates
Helicopter Ride and Tours Dubai, Al Warsan Building - near Media Rotana, Ground Floor - Al Thanyah First - Barsha Heights - Dubai - United Arab Emirates
Helicopter Ride and Tours Dubai, Al Warsan Building - near Media Rotana, Ground Floor - Al Thanyah First - Barsha Heights - Dubai - United Arab Emirates
Helicopter Ride and Tours Dubai, Al Warsan Building - near Media Rotana, Ground Floor - Al Thanyah First - Barsha Heights - Dubai - United Arab Emirates
Helicopter Ride and Tours Dubai, Al Warsan Building - near Media Rotana, Ground Floor - Al Thanyah First - Barsha Heights - Dubai - United Arab Emirates
Helicopter Ride and Tours Dubai, Al Warsan Building - near Media Rotana, Ground Floor - Al Thanyah First - Barsha Heights - Dubai - United Arab Emirates
Helicopter Ride and Tours Dubai, Al Warsan Building - near Media Rotana, Ground Floor - Al Thanyah First - Barsha Heights - Dubai - United Arab Emirates
Helicopter Ride and Tours Dubai, Al Warsan Building - near Media Rotana, Ground Floor - Al Thanyah First - Barsha Heights - Dubai - United Arab Emirates
