Savanna

About the project

Savanna is a project by Emaar Properties in Dubai Creek Harbour. The project sits within a waterfront masterplan on Dubai Creek at The Lagoons, beside the Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary.

Dubai Creek Harbour setting

Dubai Creek Harbour is a major waterfront development on Dubai Creek at The Lagoons. The district is planned as a city within a city, bringing together high-rise residential clusters, waterfront promenades and large-scale urban facilities. Its setting is beside the Ras Al Khor wetland reserve, a protected habitat known for its flamingo population. The wider development includes reclaimed and waterfront land, with early plans referring to a six million square metre scheme. Future phases and supporting areas represent roughly 100 million square feet of development potential. The district’s position combines Creek-side surroundings with views towards the Dubai skyline from parts of the masterplan.

Masterplan and urban form

Dubai Creek Harbour combines residential towers with waterfront public spaces and planned retail and leisure components. Completed, under-construction and planned elements are present across the district’s residential, retail and public-realm areas. Dubai Creek Residences was the first residential phase and comprises six apartment towers facing the Creek and Dubai skyline. The masterplan also includes major public spaces and signature-architecture ambitions. A design competition for a landmark structure included the Garden on the Coast concept by Studio (UK). Emaar has also begun construction on a new high-rise intended as a complementary counterpart to Burj Khalifa and a future landmark on the Creek skyline.

Waterfront surroundings and the wildlife sanctuary

The Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary is a defining neighbour of Dubai Creek Harbour. Located on the edge of Dubai Creek, the wetland reserve is known for its flamingo population and protected habitat. Within the broader district, waterfront promenades form part of the planned urban environment alongside residential clusters and public spaces. The Creek setting and the sanctuary place natural wetlands alongside a large-scale new waterfront development. Dubai Creek Harbour is described as having outlooks towards both the Creek and the Dubai skyline, while its waterfront setting is central to the district’s residential and public-realm character.

Transport connections

Public-transport access within the immediate Dubai Creek Harbour area is currently limited. The nearest Dubai Metro stop is Green Line station G30, located 2,367 metres from the site. The planned Dubai Metro Blue Line is intended to improve connectivity to the Creek area, with a completion target of 2029. Plans for the line include Emaar Properties Station, designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. The station is planned to be 74 metres tall and to cover 11,000 square metres. Its proposed role is to strengthen public-transport connections for Dubai Creek Harbour as the wider masterplan develops.

District destinations and neighbouring projects

The masterplan includes The Square, a proposed retail and leisure destination conceived at a scale that could exceed Dubai Mall in ambition. Major projects within Dubai Creek Harbour include Oria Tower, Creek Haven, Aeon Towers, Address Residences Dubai Creek Harbour, Palace Residences Creek Blue and Creek Bay. These projects sit alongside the district’s waterfront promenades, residential towers and planned public spaces. Dubai Creek Residences, the first residential phase, established an early six-tower residential component within the masterplan. The area continues to contain a mix of completed, under-construction and planned development across its residential, retail and public-realm components.

Emaar Properties and Dubai Creek Harbour

Emaar Properties is the developer of Savanna and the principal developer of Dubai Creek Harbour. The wider waterfront scheme was developed by Emaar in partnership with Dubai Holding. In 2022, Emaar announced the acquisition of full control of Dubai Creek Harbour land assets from Dubai Holding. Emaar recorded Dh4.2 billion in company sales in 2021 and Dh3.6 billion in Dubai Creek Harbour sales during the first half of 2022. The company’s role in the district includes the residential, waterfront, public-space and future transport context that forms the wider setting for Savanna.