Projects like the newly announced The Loop offer an enticing vision of what the Emirate could look like once the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan is realised.
An artist’s rendering of what the city could look like in 2040.
Announced in 2021, the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan aims to completely revamp the city to meet, propagate and pioneer sustainable urban development. Heavily focused on making Dubai the most liveable and resident-friendly city in the world, the plan also directly impacts the Emirate’s economic targets and other future strategies. From doubling green and leisure areas, and protecting culturally important structures to attracting foreign investments and enhancing resource utilisation, the Master Plan is to be a comprehensive overhaul of the city to serve a more sustainable future.
Some of its outcomes are highly tangible:
* Five urban centres will serve as the city’s focal points — Deira and Bur Dubai, Downtown and Business Bay, Dubai Marina and JBR, Expo City Dubai, and Dubai Silicon Oasis.
* Nature-filled areas will constitute a staggering 60% of Dubai’s total area.
* Land for hotels and tourism will be increased by 134%.
* Public beaches will be elongated by 400%.
The Loop
A visualisation of what The Loop could look like. Courtesy Arabian Business.
As part of the slate of new ideas geared towards the plan, Dubai has announced a 93 km-long, climate controlled highway for residents to walk and cycle. Titled The Loop and aiming to service over 3 million residents, the project is part of a Master Plan-related ambition to make the city the most connected by foot or bike in the world. The Loop will provide residents with key services and access to some of Dubai’s most iconic locations, all while encouraging healthy transport.
While still in initial R&D, many key features have already been outlined that, according to the announcement, aim at a seismic shift from a car-centric to people-centric lifestyle:
* Kinetic floors for clean energy
* Vertical farms for food security
* Lush pocket parks
* A mix-use structure
It moves Dubai one step closer to its goal of becoming a 20-minute city, where residents will have a maximum travel time of only 20 minutes between destinations.
2040 and Real Estate
Dubai’s rapidly growing real estate sector is also expected to be realigned to match the objectives and strategies of the plan. Importantly, the plan hopes to achieve a happy balance between supply and demand, a long-term affliction of many a major luxury real estate market.
Further Master Plan-oriented initiatives for the property market are predicted to be outlined at a later stage, with a particular emphasis on sustainable urban development and increasing investor confidence.
