By the time the city's glass towers fade in the rearview, dawn is just rinsing the horizon with pale gold. You leave behind the polished order of Dubai-the manicured boulevards, the fountains, the gleaming malls-and trade it for a sea that moves without water. Out here, the desert breathes. Sand takes shape and loses it again with each breath of wind, and a Dubai buggy open desert ride becomes less an activity and more a brief apprenticeship in how to dance across a living landscape.
The convoy gathers at the edge of the dunes: low trailers, loping shadows of camels in the distance, the brisk snap of a flag at full mast on a lead guide's roll cage. You sign the waiver with the same mild reluctance you sign for any adventure that advertises itself with both helmets and smiles. Then someone hands you a neck gaiter and goggles, and the world narrows to a cockpit framed by a roll cage, a four-point harness, and a steering wheel that feels sturdier than you expect. The buggy-maybe a Polaris or a Can-Am-idles with a high, impatient whine, a mechanical heartbeat that settles into your chest as much as the desert sun does on your skin.
Before the first dune, there's a briefing.
Desert buggy Dubai ride
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Momentum is your friend. Keep distance. Trust the tracks of the guide, but read the sand for yourself. There's an art to dune driving that, like any art, laughs at certainty. The windward side of a dune is firm; the leeward side, the slip face, falls away like a silk curtain. Crest too slowly, you bog down. Crest too fast, you fly. Somewhere between those two lies grace, and your right foot is the only instrument you have to find it.
Then you go. The tires bite, spit, and bite again. The engine sounds like it's sawing through the morning, higher and higher, until the first climb steals your breath not with its steepness but with its texture. Sand isn't a surface so much as a river. It yields and swirls; it resists with no edges. You crest and let the nose tilt into the descent. The world pitches forward, and instinct tells you to brake. The lesson tells you not to. Feather the throttle. Keep your line.
Dubai dune buggy sand dunes ride
Dune buggy Dubai desert trails
Dubai buggy safe adventure
Dune buggy Dubai safe ride
Trust momentum.
Dubai dune buggy family ride
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Dubai buggy sand exploration
Dubai dune buggy guided tour
Dubai buggy tour red dunes
Dubai dune buggy desert challenge
Dubai buggy safe adventure And suddenly the buggy is not fighting the dune but sketching across it, carving long arcs along the slope, the whole chassis drifting in a controlled slide that feels like writing your name in wind.
Minutes turn into a rhythm: climb, crest, slide, straighten. There are bowls to carve, like sunlit amphitheaters scooped by centuries, and high ridges where the guide plants his flag and you park one by one, each buggy angled like a gull preparing to take off. From up here the desert looks like a topographic map drawn by a generous hand. Waves of rust-red and honey-gold roll to the horizon. Somewhere beyond, the mountains of Hatta saw at the sky. You cut the engine, and the sudden silence is almost a physical thing. Dubai dune buggy sand dunes ride Only the tick of cooling metal and the sound of your own breath share the air with the wind.
In that quiet, details emerge. The neat stitches of a lizard's trail. The blurred crescents of fox or dog.
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A single hardy shrub, leaves dulled to armor, holding its ground against a climate that would prefer emptiness. The guide pours tiny cups of Arabic coffee from a thermos, and dates go from hand to hand. You sip, sweet and bitter in the same swallow, and it tastes like hospitality distilled. Someone mentions falcons. Someone else points out to where a caravan used to pass, long before roads gave the desert convenient edges. The desert is not empty, the guide says. It's just mostly quiet.
Then you're back in the harness. The sun climbs. The sand changes under its hand, going from cool and firm to warm and looser, a living graph of the day. You adjust with it. You learn to sense softness through the wheel, to choose lines that surf over rather than dig into a dune's shoulder. Dune buggy Dubai guided ride With each kilometer your hands relax, not from fatigue, but because they and the terrain have reached a truce. Dune buggy Dubai red desert . You stop trying to wrestle the sand and start to read it.
There's adrenaline in all of this, yes-enough to make you laugh without meaning to when the buggy yawns sideways and straightens, enough to leave your heart skipping like the tires on rippled flats. But there's also a humility that threads through the thrill. The desert is older than the idea of your fun. The machines leave only temporary signatures; a good wind will erase them by evening. Even your excitement feels brief and right-sized, matched to the scale of a place that has always celebrated both movement and disappearance.
As the ride winds down, you fall in behind the guide for a long, easy traverse. The skyline of Dubai hovers in the heat haze like a mirage-the idea of a city sketched on the edge of the sky. People often say a Dubai buggy open desert ride shows you the “real” Dubai. That's a simplification, but not a lie. The city rose quickly, brilliantly, improbably. The desert is what it rose from. To skim over it in a buggy is to hold, for an hour or two, both chapters of the same story.
Back at the base, you peel off the goggles and find a ring of clean skin around your eyes, the raccoon mask that everyone wears with a small sense of pride. Sand has found places you didn't know you had. Your shoulders hum with the echo of the harness. You drink water like it's an idea you've just remembered. There are photos taken against dune backdrops, there is talk of sunsets and sunrises-both are exquisite-and there is the quiet satisfaction of learning something with your whole body.
A few practical truths linger. Wear closed shoes. Bring sunscreen and a scarf. Morning rides are cooler and often kinder to beginners; late afternoons reward you with colors that invent new names for orange. Trust the safety kit: the helmets, the roll cage, the harnesses. Respect the land: keep to the tracks your guide chooses, leave no litter, let the desert keep its clean horizon. And if you can, take a moment to turn off the engine, step away from the machines, and feel the wind press a cool hand against your cheek.
Later, in the city again, the fountain shows will still be choreographed to the second, the elevators still smooth as thought, the restaurants still fluent in every cuisine and accent. But a part of you will remember another rhythm: the rise and fall of dunes, the odd relief of trusting momentum, the way a simple machine and an ancient place can teach you not just how to drive, but how to listen. That is the true gift of a Dubai buggy open desert ride-not just the thrill, but the quiet that follows it home.
About Can-Am
Sports car racing series from 1966 to 1987
This article is about the motorsport cup. For the baseball league, see Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball. For manufacturer of ATVs, see Can-Am motorcycles. For other uses, see Can-Am (disambiguation).
Can-Am
The logo of the Can-Am Challenge Cup
Category
Sports car racing
Country
United States, Canada
Folded
1987
The Canadian-American Challenge Cup, or Can-Am, was an SCCA/CASC sports car racing series from 1966 to 1974, and again from 1977 to 1987.
The Can-Am rules were deliberately simple and placed few limits on the entries. This led to a wide variety of unique car body designs and powerful engine installations. Notable among these were Jim Hall's Chaparrals and entries with over 1,000 horsepower.
History
[edit]
The Can-Am race at Edmonton International Speedway in 1973
Can-Am started out as a race series for Group 7 sports racers with two races in Canada (Can) and four races in the United States of America (Am). The series was initially sponsored by Johnson Wax. The series was governed by rules called out under the FIA Group 7 category with unrestricted engine capacity and few other technical restrictions.
The Group 7 category was essentially a Formula Libre for sports cars; the regulations were minimal and permitted unlimited engine sizes (and allowed turbocharging and supercharging), virtually unrestricted aerodynamics, and were as close as any major international racing series ever got to have an "anything goes" policy. As long as the car had two seats, bodywork enclosing the wheels, and met basic safety standards, it was allowed. Group 7 had arisen as a category for non-homologated sports car "specials" in Europe and, for a while in the 1960s, Group 7 racing was popular in the United Kingdom as well as a class in hillclimb racing in Europe. Group 7 cars were designed more for short-distance sprints than for endurance racing. Some Group 7 cars were also built in Japan by Nissan and Toyota, but these did not compete outside their homeland (though some of the Can-Am competitors occasionally went over to race against them).
SCCA sports car racing was becoming more popular with European constructors and drivers, and the United States Road Racing Championship for large-capacity sports racers eventually gave rise to the Group 7 Can-Am series. There was good prize and appearance money and plenty of trade backing; the series was lucrative for its competitors but resulted, by its end, in truly outrageous cars with well over 1,000 horsepower (750 kW) (the Porsche team claimed 1,500 hp (1,100 kW) for its 917/30 in qualifying trim[1]), wings, active downforce generation, very light weight and unheard of speeds. Similar Group 7 cars ran in the European Interserie series from 1970 on, but this was much lower-key than the Can-Am.
On-track, the series was initially dominated by Lola, followed by a period in which it became known as the "Bruce and Denny show", the works McLaren team dominated for five consecutive seasons (1967-1971) until the Porsche 917 was perfected and became almost unbeatable in 1972 and 1973. After Porsche's withdrawal, Shadow dominated the last season before Can-Am faded away to be replaced by Formula 5000. Racing was rarely close—one marque was usually dominant—but the noise and spectacle of the cars made the series highly popular.
The energy crisis and the increased cost of competing in Can-Am meant that the series folded after the relatively lackluster 1974 season; the single-seater Formula 5000 series became the leading road-racing series in North America and many of the Can-Am drivers and teams continued to race there. F5000's reign lasted for only two years, with a second generation of Can-Am following. This was a fundamentally different series based initially on converted F5000 cars with closed-wheel bodies. There was also a two-liter class based on Formula Two chassis. The second iteration of Can-Am faded away as IMSA and CART racing became more popular in the early 1980s but remained active until 1987.
Can-Am remains a well-remembered form of racing due to its popularity in the 1960s and early 1970s, the limited number of regulations allowing extremely fast and innovative cars and the lineup of talented drivers. Can-Am cars remain popular in historic racing today.
Notable drivers
[edit]
Notable drivers in the original Can-Am series included virtually every acclaimed driver of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Jim Hall, Mark Donohue, Mario Andretti, Parnelli Jones, George Follmer, Dan Gurney, Phil Hill, Denny Hulme, Jacky Ickx, Bruce McLaren, Jackie Oliver, Peter Revson, John Surtees, and Charlie Kemp all drove Can-Am cars competitively and were successful, winning races and championship titles. Al Holbert, Alan Jones and Al Unser Jr. are among the drivers who launched their careers in the revived Can-Am series.
Pioneering technology
[edit]
Can-Am was the birthplace and proving ground for what, at the time, was cutting-edge technology. Can-Am cars were among the first race cars to use sport wings, effective turbocharging, ground-effect aerodynamics, and aerospace materials like titanium. This led to the eventual downfall of the original series when costs got prohibitive. However during its height, Can-Am cars were at the forefront of racing technology and were frequently as fast as or even faster around laps of certain circuits than the contemporary Formula One cars. Noted constructors in the Can-Am series include McLaren, Chaparral, Lola, BRM, Shadow and Porsche.
Manufacturers
[edit]
McLaren
[edit]
A McLaren M1A, one of the early Can-Am competitors that was equally at home in other sportscar series.McLaren Can Am Chassis restored by Racefab Inc. for vintage racing
McLaren cars were specially designed race cars. The Can-Am cars were developments of the sports cars which were introduced in 1964 for the North American sports car races. The team works car for 1964 was the M1. For 1965 the M1A prototype was the team car and bases for the Elva customer M1A cars. In late 1965 the M1b(mk2) was the factory car in 1966 with Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon as drivers. In 1967, specifically for the Can-Am series, the McLaren team introduced a new model, the M6A. The McLaren M6A also introduced what was to become the trademark orange color for the team. The McLaren team was considered very "multinational" for the times and consisted of team owner and leader Bruce McLaren, fellow New Zealander Chris Amon and another "kiwi", the 1967 Formula One world champion, Denny Hulme, team manager Teddy Mayer, mechanics Tyler Alexander, Gary Knutson, Lee Muir, George Bolthoff, Frank Zimmerman, Tom Anderson, Alan Anderson, David Dunlap, Leo Beattie, Donny Ray Everett, and Haig Alltounian (all from the US), Don Beresford, Alec Greaves, Vince Higgins, and Roger Bailey (UK), Tony Attard (Australia), Cary Taylor, Jimmy Stone, Chris Charles, Colin Beanland, Alan McCall, and Alistair Caldwell (NZ). The M6 series used a full aluminum monocoque design with no uncommon features but, for the times, there was an uncommon attention to detail in preparation by the team members. The M6 series of cars were powered by Chevy "mouse-motor" small-block V8s built by Al Bartz Engines in Van Nuys, California. They were models of reliability. This was followed in 1968 by the M8A, a new design based around the Chevy big-block V8 "rat motor" as a stressed member of the chassis. McLaren went "in house" with their engine shop in 1969. The M8B, M8C, M8D and M20C were developments of that aluminum monocoque chassis. McLaren so dominated the 1967-1971 seasons that Can-Am was often called the "Bruce and Denny show" after the drivers who very often finished first and second. There was even a one-two-three finish at the Michigan International Speedway on September 28, 1969: McLaren first, Hulme second, and Gurney third. Nine months later, Bruce McLaren lost his life, on June 2, 1970, at Goodwood when the rear bodywork of his prototype M8D detached during testing resulting in a completely uncontrollable car and a fatal high-speed crash. Team McLaren continued to succeed in Can-Am after Bruce's death with a number of other drivers, but the works Porsche effort with a turbocharged flat-12 engines and a high development budget meant that they could not keep up with the 917. Although private McLarens continued in the series, the works team withdrew to concentrate on Formula One (and USAC, for several years). Team McLaren went on to become a several time F1 champion and is still a part of that series.
Porsche
[edit]
The Porsche 917/30 carried Mark Donohue to the 1973 championship.
The Porsche 908 spyder was used in Can-Am, but was underpowered (350 hp) and mainly used by underfunded teams. It did win the 1970 Road Atlanta race, when the more powerful cars fell out. The 917PA, a spyder version of the 917K Le Mans car, was raced, but its normally aspirated flat-12 was underpowered (530 hp). In 1971 the 917/10 was introduced. This was not turbocharged, but was lighter and had cleaner body work, and Jo Siffert managed to finish fourth in the championship.
For 1972 the 917/10K with a turbocharged 900 horsepower five-litre flat-12 was introduced. Prepared by Roger Penske and driven by Mark Donohue and George Follmer these cars won six of the nine races. In 1972 Porsche introduced an even more powerful car, the 917/30KL. Nicknamed the "Turbopanzer" this car was seen as a monster. With 1,100 or 1,580 horsepower (820/1161 kW in race or qualifying trim)[citation needed] available from its 5.4 litre flat-12 and weighing 1,800 lb (816 kg) with better downforce this car won six of eight races in the 1973 championship.[2] Porsche's dominance was such that engine rules were changed to try to reduce the lack of competition for one marque by enforcing a fuel-consumption rule for 1974. This kind of alteration of rules to promote equality is not unknown in other forms of American motorsport. The category that the car had been created for and competed in was discontinued and in 1975 Donohue drove this car to a closed-course world-speed record of 221 mph (average)(356 km/h) at the Talladega Superspeedway (then called the "Alabama International Motor Speedway"). It was capable of 240 mph (386 km/h) on the straights.[3]
Chaparral
[edit]
Chaparral's infamous 2J "Sucker Car" was banned from Can-Am after 1970, due to its unique downforce-producing fans.
Jim Hall's Chaparrals were very innovative, following his success in the United States Road Racing Championship (USRRC). The 2 series Chaparrals (built and engineered with a high degree of covert support from Chevrolet's research and development division) were leaders in the application of aerodynamics to race cars culminating with the introduction of the 2E in 1966, the first of the high wing race cars. The 2E was a defining design, and the 2G was a development of that basic design. The FIA banned movable aerodynamic devices and Chaparral responded with the 2H 1969. The 2H broke new ground, seeking to reduce drag but did not achieve much success. The 2J that followed was perhaps the ultimate example of what Group 7 rules could allow in a racing car. It was a twin-engined car, with the by-then usual big-block Chevrolet engine providing the driving force, and a tiny snowmobile engine powering a pair of fans at the back of the car. These fans, combined with the movable Lexan "skirts" around the bottom of the car created a vacuum underneath the car, effectively providing the same level of downforce as the huge wings of previous vehicles, without the drag. Although far too mechanically complex to survive in racing environments, the theory was sound, and would appear in Formula One a few years later in the BT46B "Fan Car" of 1978.
Lola
[edit]
The Lola T70, T160-165, T220, T260, and T310 were campaigned by the factory and various customers, and were primarily Chevy powered. The Lola T70 driven by John Surtees won the first Can-Am championship in 1966. Lola continued to experiment with new designs versus McLaren which refined the design each year. The 1971 Lola T260 had some success with Jackie Stewart taking two victories. In 1972 a radical new design, the Lola T310, made its appearance. The T310 was the longest and widest Can-Am car of the era versus the short stubby T260. The T310 was delivered late and suffered handling problems the entire year with its best finish a fourth at Watkins Glen.
Others
[edit]
1974s Shadow DN4A
While McLaren and Porsche dominated the series for most of its existence, other vehicles also appeared. Well-established European manufacturers like Lotus, CRD, in the form of their Merlyn Mk8 Chevrolet, Ferrari and BRM, appeared at various times with limited success, while March tried to get a share of the lucrative market in 1970–71, but could not establish themselves. Ford also flitted across the scene with a number of unsuccessful cars based on the GT40 and its successors. American specialist marques like McKee, Genie and Caldwell competed, alongside exotica like the astonishing four-engined Macs-It special.
British-born mechanic and engineer Peter Bryant designed the Ti22 (occasionally known as the Autocoast after one of the team's major backers) as an American-built challenger to the British McLarens and Lolas. The car made extensive use of titanium in its chassis and suspension, and Bryant experimented with aerodynamics and with early use of carbon-fibre to reduce weight. Although the car was quick it did not achieve consistent success; problems with the team's funding saw Bryant move on to Don Nichols' UOP-sponsored Shadow team. The Shadow marque had made its debut with an astonishing car with tiny wheels and radiators mounted on top of the rear wing designed by Trevor Harris; this was unsuccessful, and more conventional cars designed by Bryant replaced them; Bryant was sidelined when Shadow moved into Formula One but after his departure, turbocharged Shadows came to dominate as Porsche and McLaren faded from the scene.
Decline and revivals
[edit]
Al Holbert driving a VDS-001 in the revived Can-Am in 1982.
The last year for the original Can-Am championship was 1974. Spiraling costs, a recession in North America following the oil crisis, and dwindling support and interest led to the series being canceled and the last scheduled race of the 1974 season not being run.[4]
The Can-Am name still held enough drawing power to lead SCCA to introduce a revised Can-Am series in 1977 based on a closed-wheel version of the rules of the recently canceled Formula A/5000 series. This grew steadily in status, particularly during the USAC/CART wars of the late 70s and early 80s, and attracted some top road-racing teams and drivers and a range of vehicles including specials based on rebodied single seaters (particularly Lola F5000s) and also bespoke cars from constructors like March as well as smaller manufacturers. To broaden the appeal of the series a 2L class was introduced for the last several years—cars often being derived from F2/Formula Atlantic. The series peaked in the early 80s but as the CART Indycar series and IMSA's GTP championship grew in stature it faded. In 1987 the series changed as Indycars started to become a source of cars. The SCCA took away the Can-Am name but the series continued as the Can-Am Teams Thunder Cars Championship. After a single year the teams took the sports bodies off and evolved into American Indycar Series.
In 1991, after 18 months of development, a Shelby Can-Am series was created using a production line of Sports bodied cars designed by Carroll Shelby powered by a 3.3 litre Dodge V6. The series ran for five years before it was dropped by the SCCA. A large number of cars were relocated to South Africa and ran from 2000 onwards.
The name was once again revived in 1998, when the United States Road Racing Championship broke away from IMSA. Their top prototype class was named Can-Am, but the series would fold before the end of 1999 before being replaced by the Grand American Road Racing Championship. The Can-Am name would not be retained in the new series.
Circuits
[edit]
Main article: List of Can-Am Challenge Cup circuits
Champions
[edit]
Year
Driver
Team
Car
1966
John Surtees
Team Surtees
Lola T70-Chevrolet
1967
Bruce McLaren
Bruce McLaren Motor Racing
McLaren M6A-Chevrolet
1968
Denny Hulme
Bruce McLaren Motor Racing
McLaren M8A-Chevrolet
1969
Bruce McLaren
Bruce McLaren Motor Racing
McLaren M8B-Chevrolet
1970
Denny Hulme
Bruce McLaren Motor Racing
McLaren M8D-Chevrolet
1971
Peter Revson
Bruce McLaren Motor Racing
McLaren M8F-Chevrolet
1972
George Follmer
Penske Racing
Porsche 917/10
1973
Mark Donohue
Penske Racing
Porsche 917/30 TC
1974
Jackie Oliver
Shadow Racing Cars
Shadow DN4A-Chevrolet
1975–1976
No series
1977
Patrick Tambay
Haas-Hall Racing
Lola T333CS-Chevrolet
1978
Alan Jones
Haas-Hall Racing
Lola T333CS-Chevrolet
1979
Jacky Ickx
Carl Haas Racing
Lola T333CS-Chevrolet
1980
Patrick Tambay
Carl Haas Racing
Lola T530-Chevrolet
1981
Geoff Brabham
Team VDS
Lola T530-Chevrolet / VDS 001-Chevrolet
1982
Al Unser Jr.
Galles Racing
Frissbee GR3-Chevrolet
1983
Jacques Villeneuve Sr.
Canadian Tire
Frissbee GR3-Chevrolet
1984
Michael Roe
Norwood/Walker
VDS 002-Chevrolet / VDS 004-Chevrolet
1985
Rick Miaskiewicz
Mosquito Autosport
Frissbee GR3-Chevrolet
1986
Horst Kroll
Kroll Racing
Frissbee KR3-Chevrolet
1987
Bill Tempero
Texas American Racing Team
March 85C-Chevrolet
Under 2 Litre class champions
[edit]
Year
Driver
Team
Car
1979
Tim Evans
Diversified Engineering Services
Lola T290-Ford
1980
Gary Gove
Pete Lovely VW
Ralt RT2-Hart
1981
Jim Trueman
TrueSports
Ralt RT2-Hart
1982
Bertil Roos
Elite Racing
Marquey CA82-Hart
1983
Bertil Roos
Roos Racing School
Scandia B3-Hart
1984
Kim Campbell
Tom Mitchell Racing
March 832-BMW
1985
Lou Sell
Sell Racing
March 832-BMW
References
[edit]
^
Nevison, Robert (director) (2008). CAN-AM: The Speed Odyssey (documentary).
^http://www.wspr-racing.com/wspr/results/canam/canam1973.html 1973 Can Am results
^"Donohue Hits 221 for Closed Course Record". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. AP. August 10, 1975. p. 1B. Retrieved April 24, 2015.
^Lyons, Pete (1995). Can-Am. Osceola, Wisconsin: Motorbooks International. p. 240. ISBN 0-7603-0017-8.
Bibliography
[edit]
Can-Am, Pete Lyons, Motorbooks International
Can-Am Races 1966–1969, Brooklands Books
Can-Am Races 1970–1974, Brooklands Books
Can-Am Racing Cars 1966–1974, Brooklands Books
Can-Am Challenger, Peter Bryant, David Bull
External links
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Can-Am (autosport).
CanAm History site Archived 2005-08-31 at the Wayback Machine
Can-Am History, by Michael Stucker
Bruce McLaren Trust Official site
Can-Am Results 1966-1986
CanamCircus by Stéphane Lebiez
Historic Can Am
The History of the Canadian - American Challenge Cup
Dubai Marina (Arabic: مرسى دبي), also known as Marsa Dubai, is a district in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It is built around an artificially constructed canal along a 3-kilometre (2 mi) stretch of the Persian Gulf shoreline. In 2024 it had a population of 70,550.[2][3]
The district can accommodate over 120,000 people,[4] and is located on Interchange 5 between Jebel Ali Port and the area which hosts Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City, and the American University in Dubai. The Dubai Marina was inspired by the Concord Pacific Place development along False Creek in Vancouver, Canada.[5] There have been many instances of marine wildlife, especially whales and sharks, entering the marina because of its proximity to the open sea.[6]
Development
[edit]
An aerial view of Dubai Marina towers, with Jumeirah Lake towers in the background
To create the marina, the developers brought the waters of the Persian Gulf into the site of the Dubai marina, creating a new waterfront. There is a large central waterway excavated from the desert and running the length of the 3-kilometre (1.9 mi) site.[4] More than 12% of the total land area on the site has been given over to this central public space.[4] Although much of this area is occupied by the marina water surface, it also includes almost 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) of landscaped public walkways.[4]
The marina is entirely human-made and has been developed by the real estate development firm Emaar Properties of the United Arab Emirates and designed by HOK Canada.[4] There is a publicly accessible foreshore-way around the marina and some sections of public ocean way along the beach with views to Palm Jumeirah. Its largest development is the Jumeirah Beach Residence. In October 2013, Dubai Marina opened its first mosque, Masjid Al Rahim, which is situated at the southern end of the Marina; its second mosque, Mohammed Bin Ahmed Almulla Mosque, opened in December 2016.[citation needed][7]
Phase I
[edit]
The first phase of Dubai Marina covers 10 hectares (25 acres), which includes six freehold apartment buildings called the Dubai Marina towers. Phase I of Dubai Marina cost more than AED 1.2 billion.[4] Three of the towers are named after precious stones: Al Mass, Fairooz, and Murjan; the other three are named after Arabic scents: Mesk, Anbar, and Al Yass. The scheme was designed by HOK and the contractors were Al-Futtaim Carillion and Nasah Multiplex.[4]
Phase II
[edit]
Phase II of Dubai Marina consists of high rise buildings which are mainly clustered into a block, known as Tallest Block in the world,[8] with the majority of the skyscrapers ranging between 250 metres (820 ft) to 300 metres (984 ft) in height. This includes Cayan Tower,[9] Ocean Heights,[10] Marina Pinnacle,[11] Sulafa Tower,[12] and Ciel Dubai Marina which rises to 366 metres (1,201 ft).
Jumeirah Beach Residence
[edit]
The Walk at Jumeirah Beach Residence is a 1.7-kilometre (1.1 mi) strip at the ground and plaza level of the complex, developed by Dubai Properties. Completed in 2007, since opening officially in August 2008[13] it has become a tourist attraction.[14]
Al Sahab
[edit]
Al Sahab is a residential high-rise development that consists of two towers; the complex is on the waterfront and directly overlooks the largest bay of water at Dubai Marina.[15] The buildings are in the northern end of the marina across from the Al Majara towers near the Marina Quays.[16]
Marina Quays
[edit]
Marina Quays is a complex designed by Arif & Bintoak, also responsible for the Concorde Tower. As of 2016[update], luxury penthouses in the buildings have sold for more than 10 million Dirham.[relevant?][17] In 2018, 5 million tonnes (11 billion pounds) of rock was added to create a breakwater for Marina Quays.[18]
Dubai Marina Mall
[edit]
Interior view in the mall
Dubai Marina Mall is a shopping mall located in the centre of Dubai Marina. It features 140 retail outlets, spread over 3.6 hectares (9.0 acres) of gross leasable space. Opened in December 2008, the mall is linked to the 5-star JW Marriott Hotel Marina.[19][citation needed]
Transportation
[edit]
Sobha Realty (Dubai Metro)
[edit]
Main article: Sobha Realty (Dubai Metro)
Sobha Realty
Sobha Realty (شوبا العقارية), originally called Dubai Marina, then Damac Station, is a rapid transit station on the Red Line of the Dubai Metro in Dubai. It was opened on 30 April 2010 as part of an extension to Ibn Battuta. Sobha Realty is located near Interchange 5 of Sheikh Zayed Road, around 20 kilometres (12 mi) southwest of downtown Dubai; to the east of the northern half of the Dubai Marina and the west of the northern portion of Jumeirah Lake Towers. The elevated station lies on a viaduct paralleling the eastern side of Sheikh Zayed Road.[20] Pedestrian access to the station is aided through walkways above Sheikh Zayed Road, connecting to developments on either side of the road. In September 2014, it was renamed to Damac Station.[21] The station's name was changed back to Dubai Marina in November 2020,[22] before it was renamed to Sobha Realty on August 9, 2021.[23]
Dubai Tram
[edit]
Main article: Dubai Tram
Al Sufouh Tram operates in Al Sufouh, Dubai Marina, running 14.5 kilometres (9.0 mi) along Al Sufouh Road from Dubai Marina to the Burj Al Arab and the Mall of the Emirates. It interchanges with two stations of Dubai Metro's Red Line. The Sufouh Tram also connects with the Palm Monorail at the entrance of the Palm from Sufouh Road. Since completing in 2014, it has served the residences of Dubai Marina and Jumeirah Beach.[24]
Attractions
[edit]
A zipline was installed which links Dubai Marina with the Dubai Marina Mall.[25] The take-off platform is located at the top of a Amwaj Tower and is 170 metres (560 ft) above ground level. It has a top speed of 80 kilometres per hour (50 mph). XLine is a two-row ride where two people can ride side by side at the same time.[26] There can only be one adult per row. XLine is located in the Dubai Marina Mall on level P. Another attraction is the Dubai Marina Walk, situated along the shoreline. The Dubai Marina Mall is a shopping and entertainment centre. In addition, Dubai Marina has a 3.5 kilometres (2.2 miles) long marina that is serviced by the Dubai Marina Yacht Club for yacht and dhow tours.[27][28] Another major attraction in Dubai Marina is Skydive Dubai,[29] which is arranged to give skydivers a bird's-eye view of Palm Jumeirah.[30][31]
Education
[edit]
Emirates International School is close to Dubai Marina.[32]
Incidents
[edit]
On 27 April 2006, a protest broke out among workers in Al Ahmadiya Contracting. During the protest, workers blocked the company's construction site at Dubai Marina and destroyed office property and documents. They also damaged eight cars and two buses and battered a site engineer. The crowd was later dispersed by the riot control wing of Dubai Police.[33]
In August 2015, people including police officers were arrested after they were caught with prostitutes and illegal alcohol on a boat in Dubai Marina.[34]
In 14 June 2025, a huge fire broke out in the 67-storey Marina Pinnacle, causing 4,000 people to flee.[35]
Gallery
[edit]
Dubai Marina panorama
The tallest block
Another view
View of Dubai Marina from the 64th floor of the Marina Torch Tower
Graffiti in Marina Promenade
View from the harbor
See also
[edit]
United Arab Emirates portal
Architecture portal
Bluewaters Island
List of tallest buildings in Dubai
List of tallest residential buildings in Dubai
References
[edit]
^
"Dubai Statistics Centre" (PDF). Dubai Statistics Centre. 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
^"UAE: Division of Dubai (Sectors and Communities) - Population Statistics, Charts and Map". www.citypopulation.de. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
^"Digital Dubai" (PDF). dsc.gov.ae. Retrieved 26 October 2025.
^ abcdefg"The Dubai Marina in Dubai Designed by Architects HOK Canada Inc". Design Build Network. Retrieved 15 October 2010.
^Brody, Trevor (24 December 2021) [2006]. "False Creek, Dubai". CharterClick. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
^"Whale shark spotted in Dubai Marina". GulfNews.com. 27 August 2015. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
^Khan, Mohammed N. Al. "Dubai Marina community grows with new mosque". The National. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
^"The World's Tallest Residential City Block Dubai Off-Site Program | CTBUH 2018 Conference". Retrieved 25 August 2024.
^"Beyond Infinity: World's tallest twisted tower in Dubai gets new name". Emirates 24/7. 11 June 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
^"Ocean Heights". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved 26 September 2007.
^"Tiger ready to hand over new Marina Pinnacle Tower to owners". Gulf News. 19 December 2010. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
^"Fire breaks out at luxury Dubai tower". Yahoo News. 20 July 2016. Archived from the original on 31 December 2022. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
^Published: 14:56 August 17, 2008 (17 August 2008). "The Walk opens at Jumeirah Beach Residence". GulfNews.com. Retrieved 20 January 2018.cite web: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^"The Walk at JBR | Dubai Marina & Palm Jumeirah, Dubai | Attractions". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
^Gillett, Katy (18 October 2019). "The evolution of a city: when Dubai Marina broke ground nearly 20 years ago". The National. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
^"Al Sahab Towers (Dubai Marina)". vistadubai.com. Visit Dubai. Archived from the original on 1 January 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
^"Five of the best Dubai penthouses for sale – in pictures". thenational.ae. The National. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
^Sadaqat, Rohma (20 February 2018). "First look: Sharjah's Dh25 billion Waterfront City on track for 2019 completion". Galadari Printing and Publishing LLC. khaleejtimes. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
^"Emaar Announces AED 1.5 billion Expansion of Dubai Mall". www.dubaichronicle.com. 4 June 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
^Haq, Qazi Raza Ul (20 June 2024). "How to Go Marina Beach by Metro – Living in UAE". Living in UAE.
^"Dubai Marina station is now Damac". Lookup.ae. 17 September 2014. Archived from the original on 28 January 2015. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
^Tesorero, Angel (17 December 2020). "Roads and Transport Authority to update Dubai Metro platforms addressing system". Gulf News. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
^Abbas, Waheed (9 August 2021). "Dubai Marina Metro Station renamed Sobha Realty". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
^Dubai FAQs. "Dubai Metro & Tram System - Getting Around". discover-dubai.ae. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
^"Xline Zipline Dubai - The World's Longest Urban Zipline". Visit Dubai. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
^"Frequently Asked Questions". XDubai. 2020. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
^"Boat tours, watersports: Explore Dubai's marine activities to keep cool in summer". Khaleej Times. 23 July 2022. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
^Pile, Tim (6 March 2025). "6 marinas around the world that are destinations in themselves". PostMag, by South China Morning Post. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
^"Pilot fine as Skydive Dubai plane crashes off runway". Khaleej Times. 4 October 2015 [3 October 2015 – Original publication date]. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
^"Why you need to check out Skydive Dubai". Time Out Abu Dhabi. 16 September 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
^Wilson, Chris; Neath, Amelia (21 February 2025). "8 best things to do in Dubai Marina and where to stay in 2025". The Independent. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
^"Home". Emirates International School – Meadows. Archived from the original on 17 August 2019. Retrieved 15 November 2015. Conveniently located in the heart of the beautiful Meadows community within easy access of the Lakes and Dubai Marina developments [...].
^"Al Ahmadiya Contracting workers to be prosecuted for violent protest". Khaleej Times. 4 April 2015 [10 May 2006 – Original publication date]. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
^"Police officers jailed over Dubai Marina yacht sex parties". The National. 6 April 2015. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
^"Fire breaks out in Dubai Marina building; successfully extinguished". Gulf News. 14 June 2025. Retrieved 14 June 2025.
External links
[edit]
Official website
Media related to Dubai Marina at Wikimedia Commons
‹ The template below (Neighborhoods in Dubai) is being considered for merging with Dubai. See templates for discussion to help reach a consensus. ›
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About Desert Safari Dubai - Dune Buggy and Quad Bike Rental Dubai - Dubai - United Arab Emirates
I recently had the chance to go on a dirtbike and buggy ride, and I couldn’t be more thrilled with the experience! From start to finish, everything was top-notch.
The booking process was seamless and the staff was incredibly friendly and helpful. They took the time to explain everything about the bikes and buggies, ensuring I felt comfortable and confident before hitting the trails. The equipment was in great condition, which definitely made the experience even more enjoyable.
We had the best experience! Over the last 30 years in Dubai, I've been on many safaris but this was the best one so far! Their team is super informative, funny and friendly. Their whole program is top notch, the food is delicious and rhe hospitality is out of this world. I would highly recommend getting Berke as your guide if you book this. Beautiful experience!
🌵🔥 Absolutely exhilarating experience!
Went on a desert safari with quad biking & dune buggy rides — and it was worth every dirham! 💯
💥 The dune buggy ride was a wild adventure — super powerful machine, smooth gears, and top-notch safety with helmets, gloves & guides. Felt like Mad Max! 😎🏜️
🚀 The quad biking was equally fun — perfect for first-timers and adrenaline junkies alike. Easy to handle and a great way to explore the desert’s golden waves 🏍️✨
🐪 After the rides, we chilled at a traditional Bedouin-style camp with camel rides, fire shows, BBQ dinner, and belly dancing 💃🔥 — a complete vibe!
✅ Super well-organized
✅ Friendly and experienced guides
✅ Everything felt safe, clean, and exciting
📸 Also got some EPIC pics during sunset 🧡🌅
Definitely recommend this to anyone visiting Dubai and wanting to experience the desert in style!
Did a safari Tour with this company last week and was left feeling disappointed definitely would not recommend to anyone.
We were a group of 8 with 2 vehicles booked for private pickup and drop off, to start the vehicles were old and not what you would expect for a private transfer. We then arrived at the dessert location/compound and considering it states you get all safety gear (Helmet/googles) there was none provided and we were directed into a shop where we were not given much choice only to purchase 8 scarfs at an additional cost of AED1000, to be honest I didn't mind this too much as the scarfs look better for photos etc than helmet and goggles but it just annoys me that a company will advertise something that they don't provide. The next negative is as we were waiting for our buggies to arrive I felt we were being pestered by another man within this compound to have photos taken with an eagle, I'm sure once should be enough to say you don't want a photo taken (of course this was at an extra cost). We had 4 No. 2 seater buggies booked but they eventually rounded up 3 No. 2 seater Buggies and 1 No. 4 seater, I was very annoyed with this and expressed my annoyance to them as they could not provide what they had sold to us, eventually we agreed to a AED200 refund (which was very little considering I had paid AED8496 for this trip). They were making every excuse under the sun to explain why we needed 1 No. 4 seater...!!!!
Eventually we got going with the 1 Hr. Buggy tour and to be honest we did enjoy this, yes we were not allowed drive these as hard as we would have liked and do a bit of messing with them but all in all we finished this part of the tour with big smiles on our faces, we did the sand boarding in the middle the 1 hour buggy tour which we didn't expect but it was enjoyable.
We then got back to the compound where we had booked a 20-30minute Camel ride for 8 people at a total of AED1200 (included in the AED8496!!) where there was 1 old camel that we all got a chance to get up on individually for photos, walk the camel about 50ft and back, all 8 of us had this done in about 20-30mins, I don't know how they would have made this a 20-30min camel ride if there were only 1 or 2 people there. I was expecting this would have been all 8 of us doing a trip on a number of Camels in the desert (not in a fenced compound)at the same time, NOT 1 by 1..... and I think it was very hard on 1 Old Camel to have to lift on and off 8 people one after the other, after the 3rd or 4th person the Camel was starting to refuse and the solution to this was he started to kick the Camel.
We did enjoy our trip to the dessert but felt we got ripped off, paid big money for a very poor service and facilities.
Our desert safari was an absolutely amazing adventure from start to finish. The organization, the activities, and the overall atmosphere were perfect.
A very special mention goes to Wajid, who was far more than just a driver. He took care of us the entire day with incredible kindness and professionalism. He made sure we were comfortable, safe, and enjoying every moment. His friendliness and attention truly made the experience even more memorable.
I highly recommend this company — if you want an exceptional safari in Dubai, this is the place to go. And if you’re lucky enough to have Wajid with you, your day will be even better!
Desert Safari Dubai - Dune Buggy and Quad Bike Rental Dubai - Dubai - United Arab Emirates, Concord Tower - Office no. 401 Al Sufouh 2 - Al Sufouh - Al Safouh Second - Dubai - United Arab Emirates
Desert Safari Dubai - Dune Buggy and Quad Bike Rental Dubai - Dubai - United Arab Emirates, Concord Tower - Office no. 401 Al Sufouh 2 - Al Sufouh - Al Safouh Second - Dubai - United Arab Emirates
Desert Safari Dubai - Dune Buggy and Quad Bike Rental Dubai - Dubai - United Arab Emirates, Concord Tower - Office no. 401 Al Sufouh 2 - Al Sufouh - Al Safouh Second - Dubai - United Arab Emirates
Desert Safari Dubai - Dune Buggy and Quad Bike Rental Dubai - Dubai - United Arab Emirates, Concord Tower - Office no. 401 Al Sufouh 2 - Al Sufouh - Al Safouh Second - Dubai - United Arab Emirates
Desert Safari Dubai - Dune Buggy and Quad Bike Rental Dubai - Dubai - United Arab Emirates, Concord Tower - Office no. 401 Al Sufouh 2 - Al Sufouh - Al Safouh Second - Dubai - United Arab Emirates
Desert Safari Dubai - Dune Buggy and Quad Bike Rental Dubai - Dubai - United Arab Emirates, Concord Tower - Office no. 401 Al Sufouh 2 - Al Sufouh - Al Safouh Second - Dubai - United Arab Emirates
Desert Safari Dubai - Dune Buggy and Quad Bike Rental Dubai - Dubai - United Arab Emirates, Concord Tower - Office no. 401 Al Sufouh 2 - Al Sufouh - Al Safouh Second - Dubai - United Arab Emirates
Desert Safari Dubai - Dune Buggy and Quad Bike Rental Dubai - Dubai - United Arab Emirates, Concord Tower - Office no. 401 Al Sufouh 2 - Al Sufouh - Al Safouh Second - Dubai - United Arab Emirates
Desert Safari Dubai - Dune Buggy and Quad Bike Rental Dubai - Dubai - United Arab Emirates, Concord Tower - Office no. 401 Al Sufouh 2 - Al Sufouh - Al Safouh Second - Dubai - United Arab Emirates
Desert Safari Dubai - Dune Buggy and Quad Bike Rental Dubai - Dubai - United Arab Emirates, Concord Tower - Office no. 401 Al Sufouh 2 - Al Sufouh - Al Safouh Second - Dubai - United Arab Emirates