_Deira | The place that started Dubai's evolution
Dubai’s growth has been staggering, signified by a skyline and cityscape that defines architectural modernity. Yet modern Dubai had modest beginnings.
Thanks to the merchants, sailing fleet and the spaces and people that came together to trade and exchange, Dubai played a historic role in the trading that shaped the culture and economy of the Persian Gulf.
Dubai’s modern status can be traced to the vision of the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum. As the port that bears his name, Port Rashid, neared completion in the late 1960s, he instructed his architects to quadruple the number of anchorages.
It was a far-sighted move, for the port’s trade grew enormously throughout the 1970s and 1980s, helping to set the UAE on the road to prosperity.
Ithra Dubai’s approach places a great emphasis on the value of placemaking, the art of building communities through the careful combination of infrastructure – places to live, work, study, play and relax.Ithra Dubai’s Deira Enrichment Project aims to develop Deira, the vibrant cornerstone of Dubai’s trading legacy.
The expansion of Deira towards the Waterfront is a tribute to the tradition of trade in the country. The development will expand the Deira Souk to become the centrepiece of the district and will create a bustling hub of life that will add to the already rich tapestry woven by communities past and present. The area will boast a plethora of retail spaces, restaurants and retail stores which will create a bustling promenade.
Dubai is determined to emphasise and enhance its heritage, for those who originally settled on the banks of the creek have been integral to the life of the city ever since.
Today, Deira contributes around 10% to Dubai’s GDP. The Deira Enrichment Project will expand available retail space and storage, weaving in better transport integration, new public plazas, leisure facilities, restaurants and hotels, and some of the best- placed waterfront apartments in the city. The result will be a walkable, sustainable and culturally cohesive neighbourhood that can bring even more to the city’s economic life.
Ultimately, cargo will move through Deira – which will be integral to the growing city, without compromising its heritage or the character of nearby traditional neighbourhoods such as Al Shindagha and Al Ras – once again transforming this historic neighbourhood into a key trading hub for the city, a destination for visitors from around the world and a desirable place to live and work.
By revitalising Deira, Ithra Dubai is demonstrating the power of place making, showing respect for heritage and tradition and a true understanding of the shape of the modern city.