Dubai's Happiness Street moves as Sheikh Mohammed swaps road names around

Happiness Street in DIFC can now be found in City Walk

Old street signs remain on the newly re-named Happiness Street in City Walk. Mustaqbal - future in Arabic - Street will now be in DIFC. Antonie Robertson / The National

These signs will soon be changed to Happiness Street. Antonie Robertson / The National

The authorities began covering up old Mustaqbal Street signs in City Walk - soon to be remaned Happiness Street. Antonie Robertson / The National

Old gantry signs hang over streets in the DIFC area. Courtesy: Google Maps

The Ruler of Dubai has swapped the names of two streets around – moving Happiness Street from Dubai International Financial Centre to the City Walk district.

Dubai Media Office announced the move ordered by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, on Tuesday.

Happiness Street, which stretches along the Dubai World Trade Centre, DIFC, Emirates Towers to the Burj Khalifa district, was renamed Mustaqbal Street – Future Street in Arabic.

Mustaqbal Street, currently near City Walk, will now be called Happiness Street.

The city's Roads and Transport Authority began replacing more than 100 signs on both streets, including overhead gantries.

It is not clear how long it will take Google Maps and services such as Uber, Careem and Deliveroo to update their maps.

Mattar Al Tayer, director general of the RTA, said 'Future Street' fits the focus of the government agencies and companies located on the route.

"Renaming this vital corridor as Mustaqbal Street fits well with the scale of entities on both sides of the street, such as the Executive Council, World Trade Centre, Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall, Dubai International Financial Centre and several international facilities," he said.

"It depicts the role of these vital facilities in shaping and building the future."

He said the new Happiness Street, which extends from Al Safa Street North to Al Enjaz Street South, is "dotted by an array of tourist and recreational facilities such as City Walk and the Coca-Cola Arena".

"Such facilities contribute to the happiness and welfare of citizens, residents and tourists, and the name befits the recent classification of the UAE as home to the happiest people on Earth," Al Tayer said.