'The Block' Opens Doors at Dubai Design District’s Waterfront

Press release

Published April 5th, 2018 - 06:04 GMT

Located opposite the Design Quarter, the open-air destination offers a range of different outdoor and leisure areas.

Dubai Design District (d3) today announced the opening of THE BLOCK, a recreational facility for d3’s community, at the Waterfront, the city’s first canal side recreational development. Located opposite the Design Quarter, the open-air destination offers a range of different outdoor and leisure areas including a basketball and volley ball court, a skate park, outdoor gym, climbing wall and the first urban beach in the city.

Mohammad Saeed Al Shehhi, CEO of d3, said: “We are delighted to open THE BLOCK, an extension of our evolving community that firmly positions d3 as an innovative lifestyle destination. The space is unique to the region and can be used to host events for the d3 community. We welcome everyone to come and explore our ever-growing creative neighbourhood.”

Featuring an imaginative design, THE BLOCK is accessible by water taxi and offers the d3 community a space to relax and unwind in. Boasting a range of new eateries, the facility also allows visitors to bring their own picnic baskets. The ramps that are situated in the park also permit BMX bikes. In addition, the facility includes a dedicated section for Callisthenics, while allowing visitors to rent out essential equipment for kickboxing, table tennis and badminton.

In support of d3’s efforts to embrace sustainability, THE BLOCK was developed with an ecological mindset, re-cycling 27 tonnes of concrete that was used in the canal area during construction. Landscape Architect, Desert Ink, one of d3’s creative partners was commissioned to design the newly-opened waterfront recreational area.

The Miami Vibes Food Festival is currently underway at THE BLOCK until 14 April, offering a variety of cuisines from 30 street food vendors. The Candy Land themed festival will host live performances from local artists and DJs on weekends, in addition to showcasing a unique collection of art installations.

Entrance to the destination is free of charge with parking available. The destination is open daily until midnight.

Background Information

Dubai Design District (d3)

Dubai Design District (d3) has been developed through careful consultation with the design community to provide a creative ecosystem that surpasses the expectations of a typical creative neighbourhood. d3 forges the inspiring, authentic, and relevant ideas shaping Dubai’s future as a leading destination of design, art, and culture. It has its own beating heart, its own spirit and its own very personal style.