A set of new policies and models to improve housing, city planning, and digital services has been approved by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai’s Crown Prince, and the UAE’s Deputy PM & Minister of Defence, DEC’s Chairman.
The new approved plans fit with the Emirates’ Year of the Family announced by the UAE’s President, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The new policies also support the Dubai Social Agenda 33 launched by the UAE’s PM and Dubai’s ruler, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
These initiatives focus on building residential areas that are designed to support citizens and family empowerment. In addition to better urban planning, the Council has also approved the Digital Resilience Policy and the goals under the Executive Council’s 2026 agenda. By taking these steps, Dubai aims to modernize its infrastructure and develop a secure and future-ready city for all residents.
Dubai Pushes Ahead with a Human-Centred Development Model
A meeting to discuss Dubai’s new housing and welfare plans was held at Emirates Towers. This meeting was attended by His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai’s First Deputy Ruler and the UAE’s Deputy PM & Minister of Finance.
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan highlighted that:
- Dubai is continuously progressing on a development path that places its people at the center.
- They are focused on strengthening the emirate’s status as a leading reference for urban and social development wordwide.
- He also added that their goal is to ensure the long-term stability and well-being of individuals, families, and the community.
In discussions about Dubai’s rapid transformation, many experts say the emirate represents one of the best startup story examples in the region, showcasing how visionary planning drives long-term growth.
His Highness said that, following the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, citizen welfare and family support are the main priorities of Dubai’s future plans. He also said that their values and mission are to make Dubai one of the best, most beautiful, and most advanced cities in the world. He further added that under their development model, they aim to build well-connected neighborhoods with easy access to parks, schools, and other facilities that improve everyday life.
Strengthening Dubai’s Future: New Policy and 2026 Agenda Approved
Highlighting the importance of boosting Dubai’s resilience and strengthening proactive standards, Sheikh Hamdan said these changes are needed to prepare the emirate to adapt to future digital changes and challenges. He also said that they have the most advanced digital infrastructures in the world, but they need continuous improvement.
He further added that to support the goals of the Dubai Digital Strategy 2023, they are enhancing the emirate’s digital government framework. He also highlighted that approving the Digital Resilience Policy will ensure strong, efficient, and uninterrupted digital services.
1. Sustainable Community Planning for Emirati Families
DEC has approved a new planning model that will improve residential neighborhoods for citizens. This model, the Year of the Family goals, and the Dubai Social Agenda 33 aim to build well-connected communities. The community planning reflects the traditional Fareej concept and also supports the Dubai Urban Plan 2040.
2. Active Mobility & Better Use of Open Spaces
The newly approved community planning model promotes a healthier lifestyle by adding shaded walkways that link homes to service centres. Parks and open spaces will be transformed into active social spaces where people can gather for cultural and community events. Through these improvements, the main goal is to create lively neighborhoods that support healthy lifestyles.
3. A Citywide Network of Green Spaces
The new urban planning model will add 152 new parks in Madinat Latifa and Al Yalayis. This will make sure residents are never more than 150 m away from green space. The plan also includes more than 33 km of new cycling tracks and several central parks. It has been confirmed that new community majlis spaces and wedding halls will also be developed. All these improvements will support the 20-Minute City vision by creating a network of linked parks and green areas.
4. Madinat Latifa & Al Yalayis: Future-Ready Districts
In the new model, 11% of the area in Madinat Latifa will be used for green spaces with 12 km of walking and cycling paths. The community can house 141,000 people across 18,500 residential units and will feature 77 parks. Schools, clinics, mosques, and other facilities will be included. Al Yalayis will feature a central green corridor, 75 parks, 8,000 residential plots, and other facilities for 66,000 residents.
Strengthening Dubai’s Digital Defences with the Resilience Policy
By approving the new Digital Resilience Policy, the DEC has taken a major step in building a strong and secure digital ecosystem. This policy supports the wider digital transformation goals of the city, including simplifying services and boosting the digital economy.
The policy also focuses on protecting digital systems and reducing risks, like interrupted services. The new policy introduces clear governance rules, structured processes, and performance indicators to measure progress. This highlights the coordinated efforts of the private and public sectors to safeguard the main digital assets.
DEC also reviewed the results and achievements of the 2025 plan and approved the 2026 agenda. This plan, covering areas like social development, infrastructure, public services, economic growth, and others, aims to deliver the priorities of Dubai Plan 2033. This agenda will play a major role in Dubai’s progress over the next few years.
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