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.

This Picture Taken in 1964. Click here To Watch The Picture in Full Size…..
It is very interesting to see the colour and bustle of the loading and unloading of dhows which still ply
ancient trade routes to places as distant as India and East Africa. The creek remained an important element in establishing the commercial position of Dubai, being the only port or harbor in the city. 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.

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The creek’s initial inlet into mainland Dubai is along the Deira Corniche and Al Ras areas of eastern Dubai and along the Al Shindagha area of 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.

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An attractive way to view the Creek and the dhows is from an abra, one of the small water taxis which criss-cross the Creek from the souks of Deira to those on the Bur Dubai side. Boatmen will also take visitors on a fascinating hour-long trip from the abra embarkation points to the mouth of the Creek and inland to the Maktoum Bridge, passing on the way many of the city’s historic and modern
landmarks.

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At the inland end of the Creek is a large, shallow lagoon, now a wildlife sanctuary which has become a haven for migrating shore birds. Some 27,000 birds have been counted here at one time during the autumn migration. The most spectacular are the many Greater Flamingos which have made the Creek their permanent home.

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An extension of the creek has recently been approved. The extension, which is part of the Business Bay development, will bring the creek all the way around Bur Dubai and into the Persian Gulf. The expansion will initially add 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) to the creek, which will eventually be increased to 12.2 kilometres (7.6 mi) by November 2010. The 10 km extension (which was nearly completed in late September 2007) costs Dhs. 484 million (US$ 132 million).

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Additionally, a new project consisting of seven islands known as The Lagoons was proposed to be built on Dubai Creek. The center piece of this project will the be Dubai Towers Dubai, a set of towers of which the tallest will top 400 metres (1,312 ft) while two others will exceed 300 metres (980 ft).

Some More Cool Collection Of Dubai Creek Pictures-(Click on the Picture To Enlarge)

Map Of Dubai Creek

View Larger Map

The Abras of Dubai Creek

Dubai Creek Development

Dubai Creek Abra Ride

“The Seventh Crossing ranks among the unique and landmark projects undertaken by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), which aims to ease traffic flow across Dubai Creek. RTA is keen to turn the seventh crossing into an iconic distinctive structure of Dubai worldwide,” said Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the RTA.

He said the crossing will provide free movement of traffic in all directions and full navigational traffic 24 hours a day as it rises 15 metres above the water level of the Creek, while the width of the waterway is 400 metres, enabling large yachts to pass through.

It comprises construction of roads and two underpasses to accommodate traffic inbound from Tariq Bin Ziyad Road and Umm Hurair Road to the junction of Al Riyadh Road and the extension of the 7th Crossing (currently the Floating Bridge) consisting of 2 lanes in each direction.

The first underpass passes from Tariq bin Ziyad Road under Al Maktoum and the second one, which serves traffic inbound from Umm Hurair Road, passes through Oud Metha Park.

The underpasses converge forming a 4-lane underpass towards Al Riyadh Road via Rashid Hospital. The junction of Al Riyadh Road with the extension of the Floating Bridge will be transformed to a four-direction interchange.

The project also includes widening of Tariq Bin Ziyad Road and improvements of Oud Metha and Umm Hurair Roads, as well as construction of a road to cater for the traffic inbound from the Floating Bridge towards Tariq Bin Ziyad Road.

From Deira direction, the 7th Crossing will be linked with Al Ittihad Road, which is currently being widened by the RTA at a cost of Dh800 million.