JBR, Dubai Marina, Deira and Al Manara are the favourite neighbourhoods in Dubai for cruise shore excursions, but one particular part of the city, that doesn’t feature on any cruise line’s offered shore excursion list, has been singled out by Lonely Planet.
Business Bay, the prime multi-purpose residential, commercial and entertainment destination in the heart of Dubai, has been ranked as the fifth must-see neighbourhood in the world by Lonely Planet, the largest travel guide in the world.
Described as Dubai’s most exciting neighbourhood in the making, set to shape the city’s urban lifestyle, the locale has been placed alongside popular city destinations including London, New York City and Rio de Janeiro.
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The ranking comes as the area’s developer, Dubai Properties’, continues its strategy of transforming the neighbourhood that has gained traction as a hub for some of the biggest international corporations, into an urban lifestyle destination complete with innovative real estate and waterfront living at its core.
Dubai Properties’ Bay Avenue, Bay Square and Marasi Business Bay are three significant projects contributing to the changing face of Business Bay.
Situated along the Dubai Water Canal, Marasi Business Bay is set to become a major future landmark in Dubai, boasting a unique waterside destination concept not seen previously in the UAE, with a marina and floating villas on the water, complete with a floating restaurant and club house.
Why Business Bay?
Once a dusty commercial area in the shadow of Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall, Business Bay is undergoing a transformation as Dubai Properties seeks to make it an urban lifestyle destination in and of itself.
This process has been greatly enhanced by the opening of the new Dubai Canal, which flows through Business Bay, making it a waterfront destination within the city.
“Bordered by glitzy Downtown Dubai to the north and intersected by Dubai Canal, there’s a 12km-long promenade for strolling, while ferries cruise south to Dubai Marina and north to the Al Fahidi Historic District,” writes Lara Brunt, an Australian travel and lifestyle journalist based in Dubai on behalf of Lonely Planet.
“Things will only improve over the next few years as parks, playgrounds, marinas, hotels, cafés and boutiques pop up along the canal. Away from the water, Bay Avenue is the community’s buzzing heart, with casual restaurants, a pleasant park and weekly farmers’ market during the cooler winter months,” the magazine adds.
Our own favourite eatery is Pantry Cafe in Bay Square.
The complete list of top 10 “coolest neighbourhoods to visit right now” on the travel wanderer’s wish-list, according to Lonely Planet are:
Borgo San Frediano, Florence
Seongsu-dong, Seoul
The Triangle, Lisbon
Vesterbro, Copenhagen
Business Bay, Dubai
Damansara Heights, Kuala Lumpur
Sunset Park, New York City
Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro
Frelard, Seattle
Tooting, London
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