Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has approved the second phase of the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan. The new phase consists of several projects under 10 key initiatives, including enhancing urban centres, Dubai Real Estate Strategy, Urban Farming Plan, Preserving Urban Heritage Plan, Developing the 20-Minute City Policy, and the Pedestrian Network Master Plan.
“Today, we have a clear vision for the development of Dubai’s urban infrastructure and housing sector until 2040. 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.
The plan’s second phase includes a framework for high-yield agriculture and farming by identifying appropriate locations and developing the infrastructure required to ensure food security, state run agency WAM reported. The new phase also outlines plans for preserving urban heritage to promote historical areas, landmarks, and buildings, and improve the tourism experience at archaeological sites.
Additionally, the master plan calls for developing a 20-minute city where residents can reach their destinations within a third of an hour either on foot or by bicycle. The project involves developing integrated service centres with necessary facilities and increasing the population density around mass transit stations, permitting residents to access 80 percent of their daily needs and destinations within 20 minutes.
A plan will also be developed to utilise urban spaces, such as alleyways, spaces underneath bridges, and squares, by augmenting the well-being elements. The initiative contributes to enriching the beauty of urban areas, developing green corridors, reducing carbon footprint, and enhancing the landscaping strategy, the statement said
Meanwhile, a plan for pedestrians and soft mobility across Dubai will focus on connected pathways in high-density areas, while the new phase also involves developing an avenue for all residential neighborhoods. Sheikh Mohammed also reviewed the progress of 17 projects and initiatives that were part of the initial phase of the master plan.
The Supreme Committee of Urban Planning launched last year, completed six projects, including Dubai’s National Housing Policy, as part of which, a housing budget of Dhs65bn was allocated for citizens in Dubai. The area of the land plots allocated for housing nationals in the emirate also doubled, reaching 1.7 mn sq ft.
The Hatta Development Master Plan was among the completed projects, which aims to offer investment opportunities to local residents, support local tourism, attract investments, strengthen partnerships with the private sector and promote tourism in Hatta.
The completed initiatives also included drafting of the Urban Planning Law and developing an integrated planning database to support sustainable development in line with the emirate’s plans. It also included the Dubai Countryside and Rural Areas Development Master Plan, which aims to develop Dubai’s countryside as one of its main tourist attractions.
The Supreme Committee of Urban Planning aims to conclude another five projects by the end of 2022, including a project to increase the size of Dubai’s public beaches and develop a draft of the Dubai Wellbeing Strategy.
The projects that will be completed next year include preparing a plan for integrating land uses and transport policies, landscaping policy, directing development in coastal areas and increasing the length of beaches, doubling the public parks and recreational areas, developing a sustainable mobility plan, and environment and sustainability plan.The new phase includes an integrated plan for developing five main urban centres – three existing and two new – in the emirate as well. The existing urban centres include Deira and Bur Dubai, historical areas that include museums, traditional markets and historical residential areas.
The economic and trade centre of the city comprises the Dubai International Financial Centre, Sheikh Zayed Road, Business Bay, and Downtown, while the tourism and entertainment hub includes Dubai Marina and Jumeirah Lakes Towers. The two new centres include Expo 2020 Centre, an economic hotspot featuring affordable housing and a focal point for the exhibitions, tourism and logistics sectors; and Dubai Silicon Oasis Centre, a science and technology and knowledge hub.
