The 3.2 km paved promenade runs along both banks of the canal and is open at all hours. The stretch past the waterfall bridge is particularly atmospheric after 7 pm when the towers reflect in the water and the LED-lit waterfall is operational. No entrance fee, no registration required.
Why visit Business Bay
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La Perle
La Perle is unlike anything else in Dubai. Created by Franco Dragone - the director behind Celine Dion's Las Vegas residency and several Cirque du Soleil productions - La Perle by Dragone is a permanent aqua theatre show that has no equivalent in the region. The 1,300-seat theatre was built specifically for the production, and the combination of aerial acrobatics, high-speed motorcycles, and diving into an on-stage pool makes it a genuinely distinct experience.
Dubai Water Canal
The Dubai Water Canal is excellent for walking. The 3.2 km artificial canal completed in 2016 has a paved promenade on both banks, running from near Safa Park all the way to the Business Bay crossing. It passes under the Sheikh Zayed Road bridge, where a permanent waterfall feature is illuminated after dark, and the flat, traffic-free surface makes it one of the better urban walks in Dubai.
Dining on the waterfront of Dubai Water Canal
Dining on the waterfront has real variety. The canal promenade has attracted a cluster of restaurants and cafes with outdoor terraces facing the water. Options range from casual all-day dining to high-end steakhouses and a strong showing of Asian and Middle Eastern cuisine. The density of restaurants makes it easy to combine a meal with a pre- or post-show walk.
Canal cruises
Canal cruises provide a different perspective on Downtown Dubai. Boarding a dhow or abra from Business Bay puts you on the water looking back at the skyline from a vantage point most visitors never see. The evening dhow dinner cruises are particularly effective when the towers are lit up and the waterfall bridge is illuminated - a setting that photographs well and feels markedly different from land-based sightseeing.
Downtown Dubai
It is adjacent to Downtown Dubai without the same congestion. Business Bay sits immediately south of Downtown Dubai, separated by the canal. Dubai Mall and Burj Khalifa are a 10-minute drive. The Business Bay Metro station on the Red Line connects the neighbourhood directly to the wider city. Staying or spending an evening here gives you proximity to the major Downtown sights without being in the thickest concentration of tourist traffic.
