Dubai: The glittering city of the emirate renowned for its glitzy skyline is well-known for its sustainable development practices. Another announcement on 6 February reflected the city’s focus and vision towards a greener future. With the Super Block Initiative, Dubai is heading in the direction of creating livable and sustainable residential areas by establishing car-free zones.
This initiative’s major goal is to prioritize and transform the neighborhoods for pedestrians and cyclists. Under this initiative, residential areas, including Al Fahidi, Al Karama, Abu Hail, and Al Quoz Creative Zone, will be transferred into pro-pedestrian zones to enhance the quality of life by enhancing green spaces and encouraging social interactions through shared recreational public spaces.
Super Block Initiative: Dubai’s Vision for Sustainable Urban Spaces
Dubai’s crown prince and UAE’s Deputy Prime Minister, Sheikh Hamdan, announced this initiative showcasing the city’s focus to create urban spaces through his X post on February 06. The Super Block Initiative is aligned with Dubai’s 2040 Urban Master Plan, which seeks to enhance infrastructure and promote greener and more eco-friendly urban living.
This initiative was announced shortly afterward with the unveiling of the plan for the tallest well-being resort on the globe, under the 2033 Dubai Quality of Life Strategy. A striking investment of AED 2 billion will be made for the development of Therme Dubai at Zabeel Park, which is projected to be complete and open by 2028. This newest landmark in the city of skyscrapers will feature an interactive park and the world’s largest indoor botanical garden, designed to host 1.7 million visitors in a year.
Construction & Rehabilitation of Walkways Under Dubai’s Walk Master Plan
Concurrently, a blueprint for a 6,500 km network of modern walkways that will be spread across 160 areas in the city is also being developed. The major goal of this modern project is to enhance pedestrian access and promote soft or human-powered mobility, helping the reduction of carbon emissions and the creation of a greener emirate. Apart from its environmental benefits, the network will offer a more scenic and enjoyable way for residents to explore the city, further improving urban living. The Dubai Walk master plan was announced recently, which will include the construction and rehabilitation of new 3,330 km and current 2,300 km walkways till 2040.
Massive Expansion in Tree Planting & Green Spaces
A remarkable and massive green accomplishment was made in Dubai, as approximately 216,500 trees were planted across the city in the previous year, reflecting a rise of 17% in tree plantation in 2023. This data provides an estimate that almost 600 trees were planted every day in Dubai last year.
Additionally, the city’s green spaces have also expanded by 391.5 hectares as a result of afforestation and landscaping efforts, reflecting a 57% growth from 2023. 5.3 million flowers and ornamental plants seedlings were planted, and 45 million seasonal flowers were replaced across the three cycles throughout the year.
New global standards will continue to be established by Dubai in community care, infrastructure, and digital innovation through these visionary initiatives, along with satisfying the aspirations of its residents.
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