Mohammed bin Rashid approves the comprehensive plan for developing pedestrian paths "Dubai Walk" To transform the emirate into a pedestrian-friendly city

DUBAI, 7 DECEMBER WAM / His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, may God protect him, was approved in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Finance, the comprehensive plan to develop pedestrian paths (Dubai Walk), to transform Dubai into a pedestrian-friendly city throughout the year, and to achieve a qualitative leap in the level of pedestrian paths and facilities at the level of the Emirate of Dubai, through the development of a comprehensive structural plan for the network. Integrated pedestrian paths, have a special identity, are easy to access, meet safety standards, a comfortable environment for pedestrians, continuity of paths, and an increase in green and open spaces.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum stressed that improving the quality of life in Dubai will remain the goal of strategic plans, and the most prominent title of qualitative initiatives aimed at developing infrastructure and unique modern facilities, in line with Dubai’s status and its distinguished development and civilizational experience, and contributes to consolidating its global position as a destination. Preferred for working, living and visiting.
His Highness said: “Today we approved the comprehensive plan to develop pedestrian paths (Dubai Walk): a modern path network with a length of more than 6,500 kilometers in 160 areas… 3,300 kilometers of new pedestrian paths… and the rehabilitation of 2,300 kilometers of existing paths until 2040.” Implementing more than 900 kilometers after the year 2040… and developing 110 pedestrian bridges and tunnels to enhance connectivity between the regions… an ambitious plan to increase the rate of movement Pedestrian and individual mobility from 13% currently to 25% in 2040.”
His Highness added: “Dubai is the city of the future, and our goal is to provide the best urban environment that supports the health and happiness of its residents and visitors. The comprehensive plan for developing pedestrian paths reflects Dubai’s commitment to promoting healthy lifestyles and providing integrated sports options for everyone. We want walking to be a culture and a way of life in society.” He practices it on a daily basis, to make Dubai the healthiest and most sustainable city.”
This came during His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s review of the comprehensive plan for developing pedestrian paths (Dubai Walk), the general and executive plans for developing paths at the emirate level until 2040, and the design standards for paths that took into account consistency and integration with the nature and character of each area. Urban.
The adoption of the comprehensive plan to develop pedestrian paths in Dubai was attended by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Supreme Chairman and CEO of Emirates Airline and Group, His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council, and Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, His Excellency Mohammed Ibrahim Al Shaibani, Director General of the Court of His Highness the Ruler of Dubai, and His Excellency Mohammed bin Hadi Al Husseini, Minister of State for Financial Affairs, and His Excellency Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, and a number of general directors in Dubai.
Upon his arrival at the plan launch site near the Museum of the Future, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum was received by His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority in Dubai.
His Highness the Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai listened to an explanation from His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer about the comprehensive plan to develop pedestrian paths, which contributes to enhancing the global competitiveness of the Emirate of Dubai in terms of pedestrian facilities and individual transportation, and achieving one of the goals of the Dubai Urban Plan 2040, which is “a city “Twenty Minutes”, by providing infrastructure to reach more than 80% of services for residents within twenty minutes of travel, supporting the Quality of Life Strategy 2033, improving the quality of life of community members, transforming Dubai into a pedestrian-friendly city, and improving the level of traffic safety. For pedestrians and linking the different areas with the current pedestrian paths, and introducing the creative, aesthetic and cultural element into the individual transportation elements, in addition to highlighting the identity of the different areas to improve the aesthetic appearance, beautify the squares in the Emirate of Dubai, and enhance joint work with strategic partners in developing creative elements in infrastructure and transportation facilities. Activating the role of youth and highlighting future trends in the field of mobility through their participation in proposing creative ideas in designing pedestrian paths and facilities.
The comprehensive plan for developing pedestrian paths includes the implementation and development of more than 6,500 kilometers of pedestrian paths, interconnected and continuous at the level of the emirate, where 3,300 kilometers of new pedestrian paths will be implemented, and 2,300 kilometers of existing paths will be developed until 2040, as well as the implementation of more than 900 kilometers of paths. After the year 2040, the pilot application of the project will begin in the period from 2025 to 2027, and the project will be implemented in three phases, extending from 2027 to 2040.
The plan also includes the implementation of 110 pedestrian bridges and tunnels to connect urban areas, the most important of which is a bridge on Al Ittihad Street, linking the Al Nahda and Al Mamzar areas, a bridge on Tripoli Street, linking the Al Warqaa and Mirdif areas, a bridge on Al Khawaneej Street, linking the Mushrif and Al Khawaneej areas, and a bridge on Dubai Road. Al Ain, linking Dubai Silicon Oasis and Dubailand.
The project contributes to achieving complete connectivity between attractions, public facilities, and various means of transportation, such as the Burj Khalifa area, the Dubai International Financial Center, Dubai Marina, and Jumeirah Lakes Towers, as well as consolidating the identity and artistic character of the paths, and designing a special identity for each area, through shapes, colors, lighting, and landscaping. Different, so that pedestrians feel the transition from one area to another.
The paths were taken into account to improve the pedestrian environment, by providing complementary elements to beautify the city, such as intensifying afforestation and shading on the paths, using misting systems to reduce the temperature on the paths, and providing interactive paths that include screens, panels, floor graphics, and sports and entertainment equipment, which encourage residents and visitors to walk. Providing rest houses and commercial investment spaces, ensuring easy access to paths and raising the level of traffic safety, and designing a qualitative guidance system, with a distinctive design of floor signs and signs, and sustainable lighting, Integrated sidewalks, artwork, and adding routes to navigation systems and smart applications.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum also listened to an explanation of the pedestrian paths that will be implemented in the first phase, which is 17 kilometers long, which is the historic Al-Ras path in the Al-Ras and Grand Souq area, which is one of the historical and heritage areas in the emirate, and the length of the path is 15 kilometers. Of which five kilometers are on the waterfront, it includes the rehabilitation of 25 public squares, by providing shaded rest areas, green spaces, and places to display artistic and heritage works, and rehabilitating the waterfront paths. Through simple designs, materials and colors that are in harmony with the identity of the region.
His Highness then stopped at the Future Path, which will be implemented in the Future Museum area, where he watched a short film about the path, which includes an iconic bridge with a distinctive architectural character that suits the nature of the region, two kilometers long and a width ranging between six and 15 meters, linking economic attractions and leadership. Works covering the site of the Dubai World Trade Centre, the Museum of the Future, the Emirates Towers, the Dubai International Financial Center and the metro stations.
His Highness viewed a large model of the path of the future, showing the path of the iconic bridge, which connects 10 vital sites in the region, and provides an air-conditioned floor with an area of ​​30,000 square metres, allowing for walking all year round, in addition to 30,000 square meters of open space containing shading elements. Green spaces contribute to reducing temperatures for pedestrians, and the project provides new investment opportunities by providing commercial spaces on the iconic bridge, and attracting the private sector to implement the project on the principle of partnership between the public and private sectors.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum also reviewed the models of the paths that will be implemented, which include three models: The first is tourist and recreational paths, and includes 112 km of waterfront path, 64 km of urban path, 124 km of green paths, and 150 km of rural and mountain paths. The second model is the paths supporting the first and last mile, to enhance mobility via mass transportation, and covers 30 areas, the most important of which are the areas of Raqqa, Business Bay, Al-Bidaa, and the Commercial Center. The third model is neighborhood paths, which are internal paths that serve residential neighborhoods and connect them to areas Attraction: This model covers 50 areas, and in the first phase it will include three areas: Al Barsha 2, Al Khawaneej 2, and Al Mizhar 1.
His Highness also viewed three models of urban spaces, including the “Plaza,” which will be implemented in four locations: the Etihad Museum, 2nd of December Street, Al Mamzar, and Mushrif. The second model is the superplex, and in the first phase it covers four areas, namely: Al Fahidi. Al Quoz, Al Karama, and Abu Hail. As for the third model, it is the integrated streets (the Boulevard), and it will be implemented in four streets: Jumeirah, Baniyas, Al Khaleej, and Al Muraqqabat.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum listened to an explanation about the road infrastructure development project in the Future Path area, which includes developing the Trade Center Roundabout and Future Street. The Trade Center Roundabout development project includes implementing bridges and tunnels for vehicles with a length of 6,200 meters, and converting the current roundabout into an intersection. Surface to enhance the flow of oncoming traffic in all directions. The project serves seven residential and development areas, and the number of beneficiaries is estimated at about half a million residents and visitors. It contributes to increasing the capacity from 9,000 vehicles per hour to 12,000 vehicles per hour, an increase of 30%. It also contributes to reducing travel time from eight minutes to three minutes. 18 seconds.
An international competition was launched to submit ideas and designs for pedestrian paths that suit the urban character of the Al Ras and Future Museum areas, from six international consulting companies, and the first-place ideas submitted by LXA were approved according to the evaluation of all parties involved in the project.
The company’s ideas for the Museum of the Future area included the implementation of a two-kilometre-long iconic bridge, with a distinctive character, that shows the luxury of the area and the high value of the infrastructure, which includes the most important architectural and tourist attractions, the most important of which is the Museum of the Future, which is classified as the most beautiful building in the world. The bridge provides a connected path for pedestrians and individual means of transportation, and supports the goals of the Dubai Urban Plan in raising the quality of life and implementing the principle of the twenty-minute city.
The design of the iconic bridge took into account harmony, harmony and integration with the nature and privacy of the region that shows future trends, technology and entrepreneurship, adding a new tourist attraction to the emirate that integrates with the tourist destinations in the region, achieving the principle of smooth traffic and pedestrian movement at the same time, and applying the best international practices in developing… Pedestrian facilities, promoting the culture of walking and using individual means of transportation, and overcoming challenges related to weather conditions.
The idea includes providing air-conditioned sections, shading elements, and green spaces, which contribute to reducing temperatures, and providing interactive spaces, to hold recreational activities and events, in addition to providing a direct link between the attraction centers on the track, with three metro stations on the red line in the area, to encourage residents and visitors to Use the metro to reach the site.
The design of the path of the Al-Ras area also took into account the preservation of the historical nature of the area, and the idea of ​​simplified urban development of pedestrian paths and plazas was adopted, which is based on simple designs, materials and colors that are in harmony with the identity of the area, and the rehabilitation of public spaces located between the historical buildings, to provide Shaded rest areas, green spaces, and places to display works of art and heritage, focusing on various ideas for cooling the path, taking advantage of the layout of the area and narrow spaces and corridors, and providing a guidance system based on the diversity of materials used for flooring, to indicate places Attraction in the region, and applying the principle of integrated streets, by redesigning some roads to provide more spaces for pedestrians and individual means of transportation.
A smart application will be launched to encourage residents and visitors to practice walking, by sharing their data related to walking, such as the paths they use, knowing the number of steps, walking duration, distances traveled, information about the nature of the path, the facilities it includes, the users’ opinion about it, and the possibility of saving favorite paths. The application provides comprehensive information about the network of pedestrian paths in Dubai, and the most important features of each path such as attraction points, works of art, rest areas, and events held near them, in addition to collecting incentive system points earned from the distances traveled: (Reward system), and benefit from points with discounts or a balance in the electronic wallet.

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