Dubai is constantly pushing the boundaries of engineering. With precious coastline in short supply, developers Meraas decided to solve the problem by creating more. They built Bluewaters Island.
Bluewaters Island opened at the end of 2018. The development houses a combination of hotels, restaurants, shops, and residential towers. The crowning glory is Ain Dubai, the world’s biggest Ferris wheel.
Restaurants
The list was last updated on Sunday 4th of October 2020.
| Name | Address | Cuisine | Price | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cove Beach | Ceasars Palace Bluewaters Bluewaters Island | Beach Club, Bar | $$ | Beach club with 3 swimming pools, cabanas, loungers, Jacuzzis etc. Live music, DJs, and more. [Facebook] [Trip Advisor] |
| Gordon Ramsay Hell's Kitchen | Ceasars Palace Bluewaters Bluewaters Island | British, European | $$$ | Fine dining restaurant by Michelin-starred celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay. [Facebook] [Trip Advisor] |
| The Selfish Bull | The Wharf Bluewaters Island | Steakhouse, Seafood | $$ | Restaurant at The Wharf. Offering steaks, burgers and seafood (including lobster). Licensed to serve alcohol. Located near the base of Ain Dubai. Outdoor seating area with good views of Jumeirah Beach Residence. [Facebook] [Trip Advisor] |
| Zhen Wei | Ceasars Palace Bluewaters Bluewaters Island | Asian, Chinese | $$ | Offers Chinese favourites including dim sum. [Facebook] [Trip Advisor] |
Hotels
Hotels and places to stay in and around Bluewaters Island include:
- Caesars Resort Bluewaters
- Caesars Palace Bluewaters Dubai
Real Estate and Apartments
There are 10 residential towers here housing around 700 apartments (1 – 4 bedrooms). Facilities include swimming pools, gyms, and private parking. They are located on the western side of the island.
Location and Getting There
Bluewaters Island is located in western Dubai, next to Jumeirah Beach Residence. A pedestrian bridge links it to Jumeirah Beach Residence and The Beach.
The island can also be reached by car or taxi. The road onto the island leads to several thousand car parking spaces. It is accessed from Sheikh Zayed Road.
There is no Dubai Metro station on Bluewaters Island. The closest is DMCC, a station on the Red Line. The Dubai Tram runs from here and goes to Jumeirah Beach Residence 2 Tram Station. The tram station is around ½ mile from the pedestrian bridge.
Construction
Construction of the artificial island began in 2013. Dutch maritime contractor Van Oord dredged over 140 million cubic feet of marine sand to build it. Desert sand doesn’t provide a solid foundation as the particles are too round and uniform. Marine sand forms a stronger base. Its particles are more angular and differ in size.
The sand was dredged using a special ship called a trailing suction hopper; essentially a huge vacuum cleaner. The vessel sucks up sand using powerful pump; storing the sand in a hopper and discharging excess water overboard.
The sand was then deposited to form Bluewaters Island. Various techniques were used. In the early stages of the project, sand was simply deposited by opening doors on the underside of the ship. Later stages made use of rainbowing; spraying sand onto the site with a massive hose.
The loose sand was then compacted using vibrating rollers. Large structures, such as Ain Dubai, require additional support. Reinforced concrete piles extend deep below the sand and into the rock below.
Meraas
Meraas are one of the leading real estate developers in Dubai. Other projects in their portfolio include Al Seef, Boxpark, City Walk, Kite Beach, La Mer, The Beach, The Outlet Village, Laguna Waterpark, Coca Cola Arena, and The Green Planet.
