Dubai is a city of technology, progress and future. Here, no one is nostalgic or reflective on the past. You will never hear in Dubai that the grass used to be greener and the air used to be cleaner. The UAE government and the residents themselves live exclusively in the future and compete only with themselves. Every year the country and Dubai itself should get better. And these are not dreams, but concrete plans.
In 2021 his Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai presented and launched the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, which shows comprehensive future map for sustainable urban development of the city. The main idea is to improve the quality of people’s lives and make them happier. In the UAE, there are state Happiness Centers all over the country that listen to the citizens and take into account their requests (Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum even wrote a book about happiness). The well-being of the residents is as important to the UAE as economic success.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum strongly believes that Dubai can be the world’s best quality of life city in the world. To implement this plan he requested to provide the highest standards of urban infrastructure and facilities in the city. Let’s have a closer look, how Dubai is going to change by 2040, and why we will all be able actually to enjoy summer in this city in 17 years.
1. The 20 Minutes City
Dubai is practically not suitable for pedestrians and cyclists. there are several great routes for walking and cycling, but globally there are few sidewalks, comfortable crossings in the city, it is quite dusty and dirty on the roads. But this will change by 2040.
‘The 20 Minutes City’ is part of the Dubai 2040 Urban Master, which will allow residents to access 80% of their daily needs and destinations within 20 minutes on foot or by bicycle. The plan will also improve the urban transport system. In 2040 the distance to the nearest bus or metro stop will be about 800 meters for more than half of Dubai’s residents.
Also to make this plan real UAE government is planning to built The Loop — sustainable 93km cycling and wellness highway. The Loop is a climate-controlled urban road, which will become home to new hotels, urban parks, vertical farms and sports facilities. This highway will be powered by kinetic flooring and will be operating on 100% renewable energy. Now the project is in research and development stage, but knowing Dubai and its striving to be the most modern city, we are quite sure The Loop will be completed.
2. Green areas
Emirati and Arabs are not as accustomed to walking and spending time on the street as expats who have been actively moving to Dubai in the last 10 years. Now the city is in dire need of parks and green areas where you can have picnics, walk the dog or engage in active sports. But Dubai is also actively solving this problem. “Our goal is for Dubai to be an eco- and pedestrian-friendly city, and a city with a high yield from urban agriculture”, said Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
First of all government plans to double green and leisure areas. Then they plan to increase the length of well-maintained beaches by 400%. This spring, three night beaches opened in Dubai at once, where you can swim after sunset, when the heat subsides. This is one of the main rescues in the summer — you can safely walk to the night beach, swim and freshen up.
Also Dubai wants 60% of the emirate’s land to comprise nature reserves and natural areas. It may seem to you that the flora and fauna in the UAE is very poor, but in fact this is a delusion. in the desert, you can find many rare plants and animals that suffer greatly due to safari excursions and uncontrolled trips of tourists in cars, motorcycles and buggies. The Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan seeks to preserve the nature of areas including Lehbab, Margham, Al Marmoom, Al Lisaili, Al Faqaa and Al Aweer, and provide a variety of services and amenities to residents and visitors to enhance their wellbeing.
3. Hatta Destination №1
Many who live in Dubai for years have never been to Hatta — a tiny city in the mountains where you can kayak on mountain lakes and go hiking. A few years ago the UAE authorities began to turn Hatta into a popular tourist destination, but in 2040 it will be the number one destination.
4. Saih Al Salam scenic route
The Loop project and the improvement of Hatta are not enough for you? Then have a look at Saih Al Salam Scenic Route — a 100km-long road for vehicles and bicycles which will include facilities to provide a holistic tourism experience. Under this initiative camps and lodges in the form of glass domes with panoramic windows will be built along the road with open lounges that will allow people to enjoy their stay beside the existing lakes in the area. A Caravan Park fitted with the infrastructure and public facilities will be built there together with an outdoor cinema.
