Dubai has emerged as a modern urban area with a diverse and vast variety of complex elements. Since 1950, Dubai’s blend of population, belonging to diverse cultures, rose about 100 times, while its urban fabric spread nearly 400 times. Dubai’s growth is economically driven, while a huge part of its urban spatial development is still in the pipeline. The Dubai 2020 Plan established a flexible framework to govern Dubai’s urban development. Based on background analysis relevant to contemporary environmental elements and urbanisation contexts, it incorporated the historical barriers of urban development. Also, it responded to the repercussions of the global economic slump since 2008.
The Plan aimed to build upon and convey the vision of Dubai’s leadership and pursue a sustainable yet highly competitive approach to establishing a city of excellence. It featured a variety of objectives to support its proposed creative solutions for spatial planning and development. The Plan also targeted fostering innovative solutions fit to Dubai’s particular settings that aid implementation, including the legal framework. Now the leadership is heralding towards attaining a mind-blowing milestone, i.e. The Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan.
The grand plan launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has mapped out the project. According to the grand plan, the leadership aims to transform Dubai into the world’s best city to live and work in. The plan is to incubate more financial and investment opportunities. With a vision to create this emirate into a financial, economic and leisure hub, this plan will lead to the inception of more real estate housing and commercial opportunities along with leisure and recreational hubs.
Dubai’s vision for 2040
By 2040, Dubai’s population is expected to swell up to 5.8 million. The population of the emirate now stands at 3.3 million. As of 2021, a blueprint for the city’s sustainable growth was laid forth by Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan.
The Dubai 2040 vision lays out a detailed plan for the city’s future growth. In this strategy, existing urban areas are prioritised, and the use of available space is emphasised. It will expand the land area available for commercial activity and provide more room for resorts, hotels, and tourism destinations and attractions.
The Emirate city hopes to preserve its position as a magnet for start-ups, international enterprises, and key investments. As part of the Dubai urban master plan 2040, there will be an expansion in educational, health, and public beach amenities. The Plan aims to improve the quality of life by focusing on integrated service centres that are conveniently accessible to increasing population density around major mass transportation stations.
Urban Master Plan 2040: Key Priorities
The priorities of Dubai’s Urban Master Plan 2040 are as follows:
- Enhancing resource effectiveness and building strong, diverse, and welcoming communities
- Increasing the amount of green and recreational space by 50 percent
- Maintaining a range of sustainable transportation options
- Inspiring more business activity
The Master Plan also seeks to improve the state of the environment, protect the emirate’s cultural and urban history, and create a more all-encompassing legislative and planning governance model.
The emirate’s goal is to have a fully functional planning database in place by 2040, which will aid in decision-making and increase openness in urban development. The Dubai Plan also seeks to promote the use of public transportation, as well as walking, cycling, and the interchangeable use of vehicles.
The new Dubai Urban Master Plan will focus on five major urban centres for development and investment. There are already three, and adding two more will foster growth and improve quality of life. The Expo 2020 and the Dubai Silicon Oasis Centre will be located in these two new hubs. Dubai Creek Harbour, Downtown Dubai, and the rest of Dubai are all pre-existing urban centres.
Dubai Urban Master Plan and Real Estate
There will be a favourable effect on real estate values in the emirate as a result of the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan.
The master plan prioritises growth and the efficient use of existing urban infrastructure. The plan calls for an increase of 168 square kilometres in the amount of land devoted to commercial uses while also increasing the space dedicated to hotels and other tourism uses by 134 percent.
Although Dubai will still be a centre for cutting-edge start-ups, multinational enterprises, strategic partnerships and investment opportunities, the master plan will boost the amount of land devoted to schools and hospitals by 25%. Furthermore, by 2040, the total length of publicly accessible beaches is expected to grow by 400 percent.
Dubai properties for sale and real estate market will also reap benefits. This will be done by attaining balance between protecting existing urban districts and encouraging future sustainable growth through infrastructure and planning changes. Consequently, this will underpin values and generate new project opportunities.
With the accessibility to green space being a crucial driver of residential property values, the emphasis on extending the emirate’s conservation and recreational areas will further improve Dubai’s cityscape.
The 2040 plan is enticing for overseas property investors, entrepreneurs, and expats already residing in Dubai.
Prices in the Middle East’s business hub have dropped by over a third due to a surplus of available real estate and waning demand. Then, the pandemic outbreak further gave a push to the economic sabotage.
Although the Dubai real estate market was expected to “bottom out” in 2019, following a challenging 2020, the master plan will inject new life into the sector.
Foreign buyers of Dubai properties for sale and business owners and expats currently living in the city will find several favourable and enticing plans in the 2040 plan.
The Hatta Development Plan highlights eco-tourism and sustainable investment and is also a crucial part of Dubai’s 2040 vision.
Hatta’s Development Strategy
As a part of the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, Hatta in the Hajar Mountains is an enclave. The restoration of Hatta Heritage Village has made it a popular destination for eco-tourists and families looking for fun outdoor activities.
Well-being, tourism, sports and activities, and sustainability are all addressed in this Master Plan. It lays out a plan for Hatta’s growth over the next two decades, which will help the emirate realise its 2040 vision.
The Hatta Development Plan seeks to make Hatta a year-round tourist attraction by preserving the area’s history and natural environment and promoting mountain tourism and sporting events.
It also aspires to make Hatta a regional and global centre for commerce and industry. In particular, young businessmen and entrepreneurs of SMEs will be helped to carry out initiatives contributing to Hatta’s long-term economic growth.
A new Dubai Urban Master Plan is created every 20 years. The current plan emphasises its citizens by seeking to improve their quality of life through various investments and developments.
