Dubai Marina (Arabic: مرسى دبي), aka Marsa Dubai, is a district in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It is an artificial canal city built along a 3-kilometre (2 mi) stretch of the Persian Gulf shoreline. As of 2018, it has a population of 55,052.[1] When the entire development is complete, it will accommodate more than 120,000 people in residential towers and villas.[2] It is located on Interchange 5 between Jebel Ali Port and the area which hosts Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City, and the American University in Dubai. The first phase of this project has been completed. Dubai Marina was inspired by the Concord Pacific Place development along False Creek in Vancouver, BC, Canada.[3]
There have been many instances of marine wildlife (especially whales and sharks) entering the marina because of its proximity to the open sea.[4]
In order to create the man-made marina, the developers brought the waters of the Persian Gulf into the site of the Dubai marina, creating a new waterfront. There is a large central waterway excavated from the desert and running the length of the 3 km site.[2] More than 12% of the total land area on the site has been given over to this central public space.[2] Although much of this area is occupied by the marina water surface, it also includes almost 8 km of landscaped public walkways.[2]
The marina is entirely man-made and has been developed by the real estate development firm Emaar Properties of the United Arab Emirates and designed by HOK Canada.[2] Upon completion, it is claimed to be the world's largest man-made marina. The current largest man-made marina in the world is Marina del Rey in California, United States.[5][6] There is a publicly accessible foreshore-way around the marina and some sections of public ocean way along the beach with views to Palm Jumeirah. Its largest development is the Jumeirah Beach Residence. Dubai Marina opened doors to its first mosque Masjid Al Rahim in October 2013, which is situated at the southern end of the Marina, and its second mosque Mohammed Bin Ahmed Almulla Mosque in December 2016.[7][8]
The first phase of Dubai Marina covers 25 acres (100,000 m2), which includes six freehold apartment buildings called the Dubai Marina Towers. Phase I of Dubai Marina cost more than AED 1.2 billion.[2] Three of the towers are named after precious stones, Al Mass, Fairooz, and Murjan, and the other three are named after Arabic scents, Mesk, Anbar, and Al Yass. The scheme was designed by HOK and the contractors were Al-Futtaim Carillion and Nasah Multiplex.[2]
The Phase II of Dubai Marina will consist of high rise buildings, which are mainly clustered into a block, known as "Tallest Block in the world" with the majority of the skyscrapers ranges between 250 metres (820 ft) to 300 metres (984 ft), which includes Cayan Tower,[9] Ocean Heights,[10] Marina Pinnacle,[11] Sulafa Tower[12] and Ciel Tower, which rises to 366 metres (1,201 ft) meters and few are taller than 350 metres (1,148 ft) meters and 400 metres (1,312 ft), which includes Elite Residence,[13] 23 Marina,[14] Princess Tower,[15] Marina 106, Marina 101,[16] DAMAC Residenze,[17] and the supertall Pentominium, which rises to 516 metres (1,693 ft) meters.[18]