Dubai International City
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (October 2022) |
International City, Dubai | |
|---|---|
| Dubai International City | |
 View in the Spain Cluster at International City | |
 Flag | |
| Nickname(s): IC; IC Phase 1; Warsan 1; IC Dubai | |
| Coordinates: 25°8′31″N 55°24′17.06″E / 25.14194°N 55.4047389°E | |
| Country |  United Arab Emirates |
| Emirate |  Dubai |
| City | Dubai |
| Incorporated | July 10, 2004 |
| Founded by | Nakheel Properties |
| Area | |
| • Total | 8.2 km2 (3.16 sq mi) |
| • Land | 8.0 km2 (3.08 sq mi) |
| • Water | 0.2 km2 (0.8 sq mi) |
| Population (Jan. 2010) | |
| • Total | 120,000 |
| • Rank | 117 |
| • Density | 15,000/km2 (40,000/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+4 (AST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+4 (AST) |
| Phone Code | +971 and 4 |
| FIPS code | (AE)10-4 |
| Website | www.internationalcity.ae |
Dubai International City is a country-themed collection of residences, businesses, and tourist attractions. Spreading over an area of 800 hectares (8 million square meters), the arrangement of the city is inspired by the traditional carpets of the Middle East. Once completed,[when?] Dubai International City is divided into multiple phases, each with its own set of residential and commercial clusters.[citation needed] Dubai International City is located in the Al Warsan region of Dubai, close to the Dubai Central Fruit and Vegetable Market.
Description
[edit]The International City residential district is planned to have numerous country-specific and themed residential developments and retail outlets. The plans include ten country-specific districts (or "clusters"): China; England mirroring traditional London architecture; France district featuring residential blocks characterized by long French windows, red and grey bricks, and pilasters or half-columns; Persia district situated in the heart of the residential district; Greece district; Russia district, the northernmost residential district; Spain district featuring three- and four-storey buildings designed according to traditional stucco exterior finish; Morocco district; Italy district; Emirates district. The Central District includes building security, pools, private parking, gyms, parks, and shopping areas.[1][2] Other areas include the Lake District.
Inspired by the Forbidden City of Beijing, China, a shopping mall covering an area of 240,000 square metres with parking facilities for 2,000 cars has been constructed to the north of the China Cluster.[3] Chinamex's DragonMart, developed by Nakheel Properties, is a large mall for wholesale purchase of Chinese products. The mall has been a commercial success and a second mall has been constructed ("Dragon Mart 2"), adjacent to the original Dragon Mart 1, that has 175,000 square metres of space and 4,500 parking spaces.[4] The project was completed in December 2015.
Launched in 2013, Warsan Village is located at the periphery of International City. This enclave within International City features 942 townhouses and 250 apartments.[5] Construction was finished in Q3 2019.[6]
There are a number of hospitals and medical clinics in the vicinity. For driving license-related (Road & Transport Authority Dubai) eye testing and medical tests for commercial taxi drivers or new drivers can be completed from Apple International Polyclinic. Recent[when?] regulations implemented by the Municipality of Dubai will greatly address the prevalence of Shisha [Arabic Tobacco] parlors housed in many buildings.[citation needed]
History
[edit]While Nakheel's intentions were to make low and medium-cost housing available to the masses (who were suffering due to the real-estate boom until mid-2008 and before the GFC) by providing medium and low-income earners with legal and decent housing instead of resorting to illegitimate villa sharing, Dubai was badly hit by the Global Financial Crisis. While Dubai International City was not immune to these effects, the extent of the impact varied across different communities and types of properties. Generally, rental values and property prices decreased during this period, but the market gradually stabilized and started recovering in the following years.[citation needed] Due to this sudden drop in prices, even the extremely lowest income group (laborers, truck drivers, taxi drivers) identified this area as a potential upgrade to their existing labor camps.[7] Coupled with Nakheel's financial downfall, controls and checks over the city's security, compliance to regulations and maintenance of infrastructure were dropped beginning in January 2009 by the developer who used to control and maintain this earlier.[8]
In 2008, Dubai International City, like many other real estate developments in Dubai, faced challenges due to the global financial crisis. Nakheel, the real estate developer associated with many iconic projects in Dubai,[citation needed] These articles claim International City has struggled with a poor reputation and negative press reports stemming from various issues including problems with its own sewage systems and the nearby sewage facility, access to the site, and a perceived lack of amenities. A follow-up poll from Emirates 24-7 revealed that a huge percentage – 91 percent – of readers showed “a marked aversion to investing in International City units.” A considerable 67 percent said they "would not touch the place".[9] This issue has been solved by 2012.[10]
Due to its proximity to the sewage treatment plant, and constant overflow, certain clusters like Morocco, Emirates and China are subjected to the odor of sewage when the wind direction changes at night.[11] Traffic gridlocks have existed.[12]
Travel
[edit]The community is serviced by the RTA bus service.[13]
Bus routes
[edit]- X23 Dubai Gold Souk Bus: Dubai International City ↔ Ras Al Khor ↔ Oud Metha ↔ Dubai Gold Souk. Operates on a 10 to 15-minute frequency.
- 365 Rashidiya Metro Station Bus: Dubai International City ↔ Silicon Oasis ↔ Dubai Academic City ↔ Rashidiya Metro Station. Operates on a 25 to 30-minute frequency.
- 53 Dubai Gold Souk Bus: Dubai International City ↔ Al Badia ↔ Dubai Festival City ↔ Deira City Centre ↔ Dubai Gold Souk. Operates on a 25 to 30-minute frequency.
- 366 Silicon Oasis Bus: Rashidiya Metro Station ↔ Dubai International City ↔ Silicon Oasis. Operates on a 20 to 30-minute frequency.
Dubai Metro
[edit]An International City 1 metro station on the Blue Line of the Dubai Metro is planned as an interchange station, together with a separate International City 2 & 3 metro station.[14]
| Proposed services at International City 1 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preceding station | Dubai Metro | Following station | ||
| Auto Market towards Creek
|
Blue Line Creek branch Opening 2029
|
International City 2 & 3 towards Academic City
| ||
| Dragon Mart towards Centrepoint
|
Blue Line Centrepoint branch Opening 2029
|
|||
| Proposed services at International City 2 & 3 | ||||
| International City 1 towards Creek or Centrepoint
|
Blue Line Opening 2029
|
Dubai Silicon Oasis towards Academic City
| ||
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "It's Official: Dubai's International City gets costlier". emirates247. 2013-07-15. Retrieved 2017-01-18.
- ^ "We Love International City". emirates247. 2013-05-25. Retrieved 2017-01-18.
- ^ "Forbidden City #Dubai - Dubai City Guide". www.dubaicityguide.com. Retrieved 2021-10-10.
- ^ Schumpeter (14 April 2012). "Mall of the masses: The traders in Dubai's Dragon Mart are kitting out the emerging world's new middle class". The Economist.
- ^ "Warsan Village by Nakheel - Dubai". Lookup.ae – Real Estate. Real Information. Archived from the original on 2018-05-28. Retrieved 2018-05-28.
- ^ Staff Reporter. "People & Place: Warsan Village has affordable townhouses with gated security". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 2020-02-19.
- ^ Gulf News (2011-02-24). "International City: Squalor township". Gulf News. Retrieved 2011-06-19.
- ^ "Reader helps police to bust brothel in International City". Gulf News. 2009-11-25. Retrieved 2011-06-19.
- ^ Alice Johnson, Gulf News Staff (2008-06-03). "Two-week sewage flood hits International City". Gulf News. Archived from the original on 2012-10-21. Retrieved 2011-06-19.
- ^ "End of foul smell for International City". emirates247. 2012-05-22. Retrieved 2017-01-18.
- ^ "End of foul smell for International City". emirates247. 2012-05-22. Retrieved 2017-01-18.
- ^ The Big 5 (2016-01-31). "RTA awards contract for International City entrance ways". thebig5hub. Retrieved 2017-01-18.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "RTA Wojhati Route Planner". wojhati.rta.ae. UAE: RTA. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
- ^ "Dubai Metro Blue Line: Where will it go and when will it open?". The National. Abu Dhabi. 25 November 2023.
External links
[edit]
- Dragon Tower Dubai Archived 2018-09-29 at the Wayback Machine