Dubai residents flock back to Marsa Boulevard, calling its opening day ‘totally worth it’.
Dubai’s cooler evenings have brought back another popular outdoor destination, and Marsa Boulevard wasted little time drawing a crowd.
The waterfront hotspot reopened at 5pm on October 30, but visitors soon began filling its walkways. Set along Dubai Creek, the destination offered an Instagram-worthy backdrop as people stopped to take photographs, grab a bite to eat or simply enjoy the outdoors as temperatures started to fall.
For some, opening night was a chance to revisit a familiar spot, while others came to see what was new this season.
For two friends visiting on the first evening, the plan was simple: matcha, good food and a view.
“We just came here for the matcha and the food vibes. The weather is great, especially now that it is cooler. It is so nice to be here, and the sunset too. You have the food, the weather and the views all together. What more could you ask for?” they said.
“It was pretty much what we were expecting for an opening day. We wanted to come down, see what was happening and try some of the food. It was totally worth coming down. We are really enjoying it, and it is just nice to have somewhere like this to spend the evening with friends,” they added.
The strong turnout was also encouraging for businesses preparing to welcome customers throughout the season.
Akel Dhaywi, who manages an F&B outlet at Marsa Boulevard, said it was the first time his business had taken part in the destination.
“This is actually our first time at Marsa, and everyone has done a great job bringing everything together and I genuinely believe it is going to be one of the most visited places this winter in Dubai,” he said.
Hesham Ratagedara said the number of visitors on opening day had surpassed his expectations.
“Honestly, I did not imagine this many people here on the first day. Every year, it gets busier, with bigger crowds and a lot more faces, but I was not expecting this many people right from the first day. It feels amazing. I could see that so many places were full, and even some outlets that were still preparing had customers coming in. It is so lovely to see that,” he said.
Not every corner was ready for visitors just yet. While several outlets had started serving customers, others were still setting up their spaces and making final preparations. The destination continued to take shape as the evening went on.
The food line-up included returning favourites such as Fynd, Home Bakery and Trio, alongside newcomers Marmellata, Nuwa and CRST. Whether visitors arrived with a familiar favourite in mind or wanted to discover something new, there was plenty to explore.
Food was not the only attraction along the waterfront. Beauty and fashion brands also added to the experience, with pop-ups from Rare Beauty, Jean Paul Gaultier and Loewe giving visitors another reason to pause during their stroll.
Rare Beauty brought its beauty bus to Marsa Boulevard in collaboration with Sephora. Visitors could try products, receive personalised shade matching and touch-ups, and participate in interactive activities.
Fashion fans also had Loewe and Jean Paul Gaultier to explore. The latter marked the occasion with a perfume launch accompanied by themed drinks and treats.
By the end of the evening, Marsa Boulevard was still settling into the new season, with some outlets yet to open fully and visitors continuing to explore the destination.
But with matcha stops, food discoveries, waterfront views and a steady stream of visitors, opening night offered an early glimpse of Dubai’s outdoor social scene in the months ahead.
And judging by the first-day turnout, Dubai Creek is set to have plenty of company this winter.
