all about dubai culture village old world charm with a modern touch in 2024

Now that we have engaged in technological and scientific advances that make our immediate predecessors appear antiquated or at least surpassed, we tend to be apathetic and reluctant about giving up the luxury of modern amenities to indulge in our heritage. Any community is defined by the legacy of its indigenous culture and traditions. Thus, when we choose to deviate from them, be it for a mere insight into the potential modernity withholds, we deviate from our very identity. The Dubai Culture Village in 2024 is a multi-purpose development project in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) launched in 2006 by Dubai Properties, located along the shoreline of the Dubai Creek.

Why is the Dubai Culture Village called so?

As the name suggests, it seeks to preserve, celebrate, and display traditional Islamic and Arabian art with a touch of contemporaneity through real estate projects.

When was this project finished and what does it include?

Completed in 2017, the village includes a harbour, cultural and exhibition centres, and waterfront development. To showcase the rich history and culture of the region, many visual and performing art centres, museums, literary societies, cultural institutions, and schools of arts and creative design have been planned. The Jameel Arts Centre is the main landmark in the region for art enthusiasts and commemorates the ancient and modern history of Dubai.

Who developed the Jameel Arts Centre?

It was designed by architect Anouk Vogel and features exhibitions and programmes related to the culture and traditions of the UAE, as well as the international art world.

Spread across three floors, it has gallery spaces, a research centre, a library, and a dedicated event space. Even so, the centre includes a rooftop terrace for film screenings, art installations, and outdoor events. One of the most remarkable areas of the centre is the Jaddaf Waterfront Sculpture Park, which is the first open-air sculpture park in the UAE. The architectural theme of properties in Dubai Culture Village follows a blend of traditional and contemporary artwork. While some residential buildings exhibit traditional Middle Eastern structures with modern interiors, others have contemporary-designed exteriors with ancient Arab depictions inside.

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At the heart of this perfection of a hamlet lies the Palazzo Versace of Dubai, second after the world's first fashion-branded hotel in Queensland, Australia. The 5-star luxury hotel is the centre of interest in the city and covers an area of 3.7224 hectares. It includes 8 restaurants, a spa, 169 condominium residences and penthouses in 1-6 bedroom configurations, 146 hotel rooms, and 58 suites. The rooms are furnished with the Versace Home Collection and allow guests to enjoy the serene view of Dubai Creek. In addition, the Giardino, an all-day dining restaurant popular for it's Friday brunch, Q's Bar, and Lounge by Quincy Jones are some of the other crowd-pleasers of the hotel.

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Adjacent to the Palazzo Versace, the D1 tower, or Dubai Number One, is an 80-floor residential skyscraper developed by Enshaa. The 284-meter-tall tower, wrapped up in 2015, encompasses a skyscraper lounge, an indoor pool, a gymnasium, a private cinema, and 24-hour concierge services. The tower has a total of 528 apartments ranging from 1, 2, 3, and 4-bedroom configurations and offers free valet parking for guests.

Also known as the Jaddaf Waterfront, or more commonly, the Culture Village, it has the following four districts:

• Residential district
• Commercial district
• Retail district
• Shopping district

Other projects include the Dubai Wharf, the Iris Asmar, Nur, Manazel Al Khor, Riah Towers, Nilofar Tower, and the Yuvi Residence. The community also houses designer boutiques and cafés that add the ideal essence of novelty to ancient customs.

Where is the Dubai Culture Village located? What areas is it connected to? How is transportation planned for this city?

The Culture Village is situated between the two major bridges running over the Dubai Creek, Al Garhoud Bridge and the Business Bay Crossing, which lead to key areas such as Bur Dubai, Al Jaddaf, Downtown Dubai, and Business Bay. Moreover, the settlement is well connected by Dubai Metro, with two metro stations, Al Jaddaf and Creek, within close proximity, along with water taxis operating along the creek and canal, which link Culture Village to various other parts of the city. A large road network, over 2000 parking spaces, multiple electricity sub-stations, as well as sewage and water networks, drive the site to self-sufficiency. Furthermore, the famous Canal from Business Bay connects here and this area is adjacent to the Dubai Creek Harbour.

A prime position and transportation system as such elevate the worth of living in Dubai Culture Village.

Which kind of lifestyle does the Dubai Culture Village promote?

A family-oriented community flaunting luxurious properties, the Dubai Culture Village promotes an upscale and sophisticated lifestyle. From supermarkets to diverse religious centres, you name it.

Amenities in Dubai Culture Village

Supermarkets

W Mart Supermarket is a local grocery shopping chain with two branches in the area, one in the retail centre for Dubai Wharf residents and another for the Manazel Al Khor community. It remains open throughout the day and offers a wide range of fresh grocery items, including organic produce. Another notable hub is the Dubai Festival City Mall, located close to Culture Village, which enables its residents to make use of ample shopping and dining facilities, cinemas, and other entertainment options.

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Educational Institutions

Currently, there are no schools yet completed on the site but numerous reputable ones are situated in the neighbouring regions, particularly Al Garhoud and Oud Metha, both 10 minutes away: Cambridge International School, The Indian High School, Dubai Gem Private School, St. Mary's Catholic High School and the like. Al Garhoud also offers University options together with Dubai Healthcare City: European University College, Mohammed Bin Rashid University Of Medicine and Health Sciences, The American College Of Dubai, Emirates Aviation University, etc.

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Healthcare

The community of Dubai Healthcare City is dedicated to providing health facilities to residents in and outside the community of Culture Village, including medical institutions, several clinics, specialised centres, and hospitals, namely Primavera Medical Centre, Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Hospital, and Emirates Speciality Hospital, among others.

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Dining and Nightlife

The Dubai Culture Village is home to a handful of fine-dining restaurants and caf's that are located within the Palazzo Versace Dubai. Other than Giardino, Mosaico and Vanitas are Italian restaurants in the hotel, while Amalfi is known for its Mediterranean cuisine. Enigma is a luxury dining restaurant famous for its authentic Persian menu. The smoke-free La Vita lounge and Gazebo, an outdoor lounge for those who do not drink, are two highlights of the place that make it eligible to be called out for catering to every need of its customers.

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Waterfront Activities

Although the community is not quite close to the beaches of Dubai, it is surrounded by the Dubai Creek, which is visible to almost every resident in the area through their balconies. Besides, the need to leave one's home for a little paddling is a rarity as the region is packed with extravagant swimming pools. Therefore, the absence of actual beaches is less felt. However, a 20-minute drive to either Kite Beach in Jumeirah or Al Mamzar Beach Park in Al Mamzar can be made if one still prefers an actual beach.

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Fitness and Beauty

In order to help its residents keep themselves physically active and in good shape, the community hosts a range of fitness centers, gyms, swimming pools, jogging, and cycling tracks as well as spas and saunas. Other necessities such as children's play areas, parks, recreational, and community centers are also available in the vicinity. The master-plan naturally does not leave out anything let alone beauty: Salons in the area include Silvio Gents Salon and Fine Line Gents Salon in Al Jaddaf for men while women can visit Toni & Guy, Hush Salon and Nail Moda in the Wafi Mall area.

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Religion and Faith

Treading on the heels of the distinguished Islamic architecture, the Sheikh Athija Bin Saqer Al Nahyan Mosque is built inside the community that is, similar to literally anything in this beautiful city, spacious enough to accommodate a big crowd. Additionally, there is a segregated prayer area for men, women, and parking spaces for its worshippers.

There are no churches or Hindu temples in the community at present but a few can be explored in the neighbouring localities of Oud Metha and Bur Dubai. St. Mary's Catholic Church, St. Thomas Orthodox Cathedral Dubai and the Dubai City Church are located in Oud Metha, just 10 minutes away. The Hindu Shiva and Krishna temples in Bur Dubai, as well as the Sikh Gurudwara and the Sindhi Guru Darbar, are 20 minutes away.

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As the "Dubai Culture Village" stands high, we are constantly reminded of keeping up with our own history. About as immaculate as it gets, the Culture Village symbolises the fact that a mix of old and new is not as bad as we want it to be. There is actually so much to learn and build from. It is the purest form of the power of today and the proudest accomplishments of our past have culminated into one for tomorrow but it isn't optional. It's essential, just as every project entailed in this wonder displays the true value and design significant to Islamic architecture.