Jumeirah Garden City: Venice of the East

XPRESS reveals the master plan behind the demolition notices handed out to residents of Satwa. The area has been earmarked for a multi-billion dirham transformation project that aims to change the landscape of Dubai in dramatic fashion.

Dubai may soon become the Venice of the East.

According to a draft master plan, a copy of which was obtained by XPRESS, winding waterways, lush green gardens and parks and waterfront properties are set to replace the dilapidated buildings and shanty neighbourhoods of Satwa.

With three planned canals slicing through Jumeirah, Al Wasl and Satwa, the entire area spanning from Al Diyafah Road to Al Safa Park is set to undergo a complete transformation.

Dubbed Jumeirah Garden City, the multi-billion dirham project has been handed to Meraas, a new state-owned construction company on the lines of Nakheel and Emaar.

  Beyond Jebel Ali, an even bigger canal is taking shape. Click here for details of the Arabian Canal Project.

In addition to the initial creek extension that was to pass through Business Bay, Al Safa Park area and Jumeirah Beach Park to connect the Dubai Creek with the Arabian Gulf, there may be two more canals as part of the Creek extension.

The first is likely to pass behind the Emirates Bank on Al Wasl Road – through the police officers’ residence – and hitting the gulf. The other is slated to come through Satwa and end right in the middle of the Jumeirah Open Beach.

Water world

These canals will also make facilities such as the water bus and the soon-to-be-launched water taxi much more attractive solutions for public transport.

The authenticity of these reports was confirmed by Kuala Lumpur-based Teo A. Khing Design Consultants Sdn Bhd, as well as two other government agencies – Dubai Municipality and Dubai Land Department.

"We have completed our part of the project which was just the planning phase. It has been handed over to the client – Meraas," said Norman Mangawang, who works with the design firm.

Evacuation Notice

Some residents, who live where the project has been proposed, have already been handed out notices to evacuate the premises. A senior municipal official confirmed they had started the process of clearing the area.

* Read what the residents have to say about the projects.

"Yes, this area has been marked for the Jumeirah Garden City project but we have no information on the project itself. Our part is only to enforce the regulations to clear it," said Engr Aiman Abu Baqer Abdullah, Regulation Engineer for Dubai Municipality’s Planning and Survey Department.

"All the new transactions in these locations have been stopped," he said, adding that the areas covered by the project have been flagged in the system.

"We already began clearing Satwa seven months ago. Residents have been informed that they will be asked to evacuate or will be informed when the time comes, depending on the priority on the area. Anyone unsure whether or not they are in the boundary should contact us for clarification," Abdullah said.

Compensation package

The evacuees will be compensated. "Compensations have been authorised by the Executive Office and will be handed out after the residence has been evacuated," said Hassan Ali Abu Rehaima, Head of Custody Section at Dubai Land Department.

"There are three types of compensations, depending on the preferences of the recipients. The first is a monetary compensation; the second is a land of equal value awarded in the location of their choice.

And finally those who can’t afford to build their own home – they will be given a villa worth Dh2 million."

He added that those renting will also be reimbursed by their landlords through the rent committee. In some cases, people can get Dh250,000 to Dh700,000 rental allowance until they can find a permanent residence.