Khor Dubai hopes to get UNESCO recognition

(5 Jul 2017) LEADIN:
Khor Dubai, the oldest part of the city of Dubai, hopes to be awarded a UNESCO World Heritage Site title.
STORYLINE:
Every morning and afternoon, Dubai creek, or Khor Dubai, buzzes with daily commuters who pay roughly 0.25 US dollars to ride in the ubiquitous abras or water taxis.
Khor Dubai was integral to the city's development as a trading hub in the 20th century and many residents still view it as the heart of Dubai.
And now the area is applying to be a UNESCO world heritage site.
"Khor Dubai, with the sound of the abra boat that passes along the creek between the two sides, is part of the memory of a place that was exactly the same in the past. Any tourist that comes to Dubai today or 50 years ago will not find any difference in the area and that is the memory we hold. The history of the place is still there. And that is a quality that is exceptional, that gives a reason to list it as a World Heritage site," says Ahmed Mahmood Ahmed, Director of Architectural Heritage and Archaeology Department.
Dubai is known for its new construction projects such as the world's tallest tower, but Khor Dubai still retains an air of the past.
"Today when a tourist visits Dubai they will find 5 to 7 star hotels, malls and you will also find sites that are registered as a World Heritage site. That will be a big addition to Dubai," Mahmood Ahmed says.
Rashid Aboobacker is an Associate Director at TRI Consulting, a tourism consulting firm says that this could bring in a bigger range of tourists.
"Right now Dubai is much more visible globally as luxury shopping destination with good quality hotels, a lot of entertainment options, high quality shopping but there are a lot of good heritage and cultural sites in Dubai and getting a UNESCO world heritage listing would mean we have more credibility as a cultural destination."
The Creek applied for heritage status in 2014 but was rejected for having newer parts in the development.
Now, Mahmood Ahmed says he is eagerly waiting the July 7th decision.
"We have mixed feelings, one, you know when they apply for a prize before it is announced one is just in anticipation and there is a sense of excitement for this," he says.
The meeting this year is scheduled in Krakow, Poland.
Meanwhile, life on the creek continues.
The area encompasses the oldest market in the city and on the other side of the creek there are multiple rows of colourful cargo dhows (wooden boats) that make their way from Iran, Somalia and India.
Many sailors live on the dhows and this has created a sub-culture of communities from Iran and the Indian subcontinent that are to be found relaxing in and around cargo boxes that are filled with AC units, refrigerators and various foodstuffs.
Many tourists come to see this side of Dubai, and Mahmood Ahmed hopes that with the UNESCO title, the amount of visitors will crease from 12-15 million people a year to 20 million.
Selection to the World Heritage List is based on a list of 10 criteria, more than half of which is for "cultural heritage", whilst the other four are for "natural heritage".
The World Heritage Centre's Committee consists of representatives of 21 of the States Parties to the Convention elected by the General Assembly.


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