Urban plan will boost investments and create more job opportunities for residents.
The Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan will see development focused on five key centres.
The grand plan launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, aims to transform Dubai into the world’s best city to live and work in.
Development and investment in five main urban centres three existing ones and two new ones will support growth of economic sectors and increased job opportunities for residents. It also provides a “wide range of lifestyle facilities”.
Existing centres
Deira and Bur Dubai are historic areas that highlight the emirate’s tradition and heritage.
Downtown and Business Bay are the business and financial heart of the city.
Dubai Marina and JBR, the hospitality and leisure centre, serves as an international tourism hub.
New centres
Expo 2020 Centre is an economic and growth hotspot, featuring affordable housing and a focal point for the exhibitions, tourism and logistics sectors.
Dubai Silicon Oasis Centre is a science and technology and knowledge hub that drives innovation, digital economy development and talent generation.
Key priorities in plan
Mattar Al Tayer, Chair of Dubai Urban Plan 2040 Higher Committee, and Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), explained the final deliverables of the plan.
Some of the key priorities include improving the efficiency of resource utilisation; developing vibrant, healthy and inclusive communities; and doubling green and leisure areas as well as public parks to provide a healthy environment for residents and visitors.
The new master plan also seeks to provide sustainable and flexible means of mobility as well a foster greater economic activity and attract foreign investments to new sectors. Other objectives include enhancing environmental sustainability; safeguarding the emirate’s cultural and urban heritage; and developing a comprehensive legislation and planning governance model.
Equitable access to facilities
Depending on urbanisation levels, the master plan defines a hierarchy of communities in the city.
The largest of them, the emirate, includes the five main ‘towns’ built around each of the five main urban centres with a population of 1 to 1.5 million.
This is followed by the multi sector with a population of between 300,000 and 400,000.
The sector has a population of between 70,000 and 125,000, while the district has between 20,000 and 30,000.
The community has a population from 6,000 to 12,000, while the neighbourhood houses between 2,000 and 4,000.
Based on these levels, infrastructure and transit systems, energy and government services, and facilities such as hospitals, schools, service centres, and leisure centres will be provided across Dubai.
Population
According to recent studies, the number of Dubai residents is expected to increase from 3.3 million in 2020 to 5.8 million by 2040.
“Easily accessible integrated service centres will be established across Dubai to ensure that the needs of all sections of the population are catered to. The plan seeks to raise the quality of life of the city while increasing population densities around key mass transit stations,” said Al Tayer.