Dubai Creek Harbour

What Dubai Creek Harbour is like

Dubai Creek Harbour is a developing residential and leisure district on the eastern bank of Dubai Creek, beside the Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary. Emaar is building it as a waterfront community of apartments, hotels, shops and a marina. It sits between the older neighbourhoods around the Creek and the newer centres of Downtown Dubai and Business Bay, which Visit Dubai puts 10 to 15 minutes away by car.

The pace is slower than in Downtown or the Marina. Much of the appeal is the view: from the waterfront you look straight across the Creek to the Burj Khalifa and the Downtown towers. A long promenade, which Visit Dubai describes as about 6 km, runs along the water with colourful art installations along the way.

Parts of the district are still under construction, and Visit Dubai notes that it is expected to roughly double in size. The planned Dubai Creek Tower, first announced as taller than the Burj Khalifa, has been redesigned to a lower height; its foundations were finished in 2018 and in June 2026 Emaar's founder said the construction tender had been delayed. Do not plan a visit around it.

Visit Dubai also reports plans for Dubai Square, a 2.6 million m² retail and lifestyle quarter with architecture inspired by cities around the world, including Dubai's own version of a Chinatown. Treat it as a future project for now.

What to see and do

• The promenade: walk, jog or cycle along the water and stop at the art installations for photos. Sunset is the busiest time.
• Dubai Creek Marina: Emaar's yacht marina is the focus of the waterfront, and boat tours leave from the area.
• Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary: Dubai Municipality protects these wetlands, where thousands of birds gather and flamingos are the main draw in winter. Three bird hides on the edge of the reserve are free to use without booking. Visit Dubai lists hide hours of 7:30am to 5:30pm in winter and 6am to 6pm from April to September. The sanctuary was set up in 1985, declared a protected area in 1998 and is home to about 450 species of animals. Free guided tours run Sunday to Thursday from 7:30am to 2pm and are booked by email with Dubai Municipality (nrs@dm.gov.ae). Allow about an hour.
• Dubai Festival City: the mall and its evening light show are nearby. Read our Festival City guide.

For evening cruises on the Creek, see our tours.

Getting there and around

There is no metro station in Dubai Creek Harbour at the moment. Visit Dubai suggests taking the Green Line to Dubai Healthcare City station and then a taxi of about 10 to 15 minutes. RTA bus routes 53 and X64 stop at Waha Community Centre 1, about a 30-minute walk away. By car, leave Sheikh Zayed Road at the Ras Al Khor exit and follow Al Khail Road (E44).

This will change: the new Blue Line of the Dubai Metro includes a Dubai Creek Harbour station designed by SOM, and the RTA is targeting full service on the line from September 2029.

Emaar puts the district about 10 minutes from Dubai International Airport, and Rome2Rio's taxi estimate to the waterfront is similar with no traffic.

Where to eat

Dining is mostly casual and outdoors: cafés, restaurants and food trucks along the promenade and around the marina. Visit Dubai recommends an al fresco meal with the skyline view. For a wider choice, the restaurants of Dubai Festival City are nearby by car.

Practical tips

• Flamingos at Ras Al Khor are most active between about 10am and 4pm, according to Visit Dubai.
• Budget for taxis until the Blue Line opens.
• Parts of the district are still being built, so expect some construction sites.