Al-Maqta Canal of Abu Dhabi, UAE: A Study of Waterfront Landscapes and Flow in Manmade Canals

Abstract

Urban renewal is important to regenerate the living city in Abu Dhabi were recently public space along waterfronts is emerging along with cafes, restaurants and hotels to represent as new kind of mitigation between public and semi-public spaces. Waterfront urban assemblages in Abu Dhabi offer a relatively sanitized experience than those associated with conventional public spaces in historic cities. For example Al-Bateen marina and the Al-Maqta Canal are new waterfront developments shaped by concrete breakwaters that re-define the connection of public space to waterfronts. While pedestrian access and walkability in Abu Dhabi are still in their infantile stages, new projects such as the new Al-Maqta Canal Project and Al-Bateen Marina promises to create new venues for pedestrian and outdoor activities. Although these spaces replace earlier waterfront spaces such as old wharfs and fishing hubs had a more traditional attire, these new open spaces display an urban strategy of creating public spaces along waterfronts in oil rich Gulf States. When taken together such waterfront developments address the complex urban whole that reflects the multi-ethnic nature of Gulf state cities. This paper studies the strategies and effects of architectural assemblages along waterfronts in Abu Dhabi and how they shape public space and urban landscape. In addition, we use a 2D-hydrodynamic water surface model to simulate the flow pattern in the new Al-Maqta Canal.