Dubai Municipality signs an agreement with the Institute of Urban Planning and Design in Shenzhen

Dubai Municipality signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Institute of Urban Planning and Design in Shenzhen, one of the most prominent government expertise houses specialized in comprehensive urban planning in the People’s Republic of China, during the World Government Summit 2026, which concludes in Dubai on February 5, in a step that reflects Dubai’s commitment to pioneering the development of future cities based on the exchange of international knowledge and advanced urban innovation.
The agreement establishes a regulatory framework for cooperation between Dubai Municipality and the Schengen Institute, with the aim of enhancing cooperation in the fields of urban planning and design, developing smart and sustainable cities, low-carbon urban planning, and advanced infrastructure systems. Through this partnership, the two sides will work to exchange experiences and standardize methodologies supporting the development of more efficient, resilient, human-centered urban environments.
The memorandum of understanding comes as an extension of the visit of a high-level delegation from Dubai to the city of Shenzhen in February 2025, during which it reviewed the city’s experiences in designing sponge cities and smart city applications, and observed clear intersections between urban development paths and long-term strategic priorities in both cities.
Under the agreement, the two parties will cooperate in developing future planning practices and urban design methods, by integrating the best international practices with local planning frameworks. This includes joint development and application of planning techniques related to development directed towards flexible urban planning, sponge city concepts, low-carbon planning, and smart city models. Cooperation also extends to employing emerging technologies in the fields of planning, construction, operation, and city management, in a way that supports the shift towards smarter, data-driven urban systems.
The partnership also includes cooperation in the use of advanced geospatial analysis tools, data- and artificial intelligence-based planning techniques, and urban design principles that contribute to enhancing sustainability and quality of life. In parallel, the two parties will work to explore new global urban models based on the experiences accumulated in Dubai and Shenzhen, making this partnership a platform for testing and promoting innovative solutions for planning future cities.
In the field of infrastructure, the memorandum of understanding stipulates cooperation in developing advanced planning and design solutions, including new generation communications and information technology systems supported by fifth generation (5G) networks, integrated underground infrastructure services, and smart water management systems based on artificial intelligence and big data analysis, in a way that enhances the efficiency, sustainability and flexibility of urban infrastructure.
Director General of Dubai Municipality, Eng. Marwan Ahmed bin Ghalita, said: This partnership reflects Dubai Municipality’s strategic commitment to benefiting from the experiences of urban planning pioneers around the world, in addition to sharing Dubai’s expertise in planning and building cities on the international scene. Through this cooperation with the Institute of Urban Planning and Design in Shenzhen, we enhance our ability to develop smart and sustainable human-centered urban environments that keep pace with the challenges of the future and contribute to enhancing the quality of life and the luxury of living.
He added: The World Government Summit is an ideal platform to launch this partnership, as it brings together governments, institutions, decision-makers and leaders seeking to shape the cities of the future through innovation, flexibility and constructive international cooperation.
Yu Lu, head of the Institute of Urban Planning and Design in Shenzhen, said: Shenzhen and Dubai are two cities close in age, with similar infrastructure, and have witnessed rapid urban development over a short period of time. Today, the two cities stand at the forefront of innovation and sustainable development, and their shared background creates great potential for meaningful cooperation and mutual benefit. This memorandum is not only an official agreement, but a strategic framework for sustainable cooperation between the two institutions and the two cities.
She added: The Institute of Urban Planning and Design in Shenzhen has been playing an important role in international exchange in the field of urban development, innovation in governance and application of technology for more than 35 years. Through this cooperation with Dubai Municipality, we look forward to exchanging knowledge, experiences, and best practices in the fields of city planning and renewal, sponge cities, smart mobility, and smart city development, in addition to training employees, enhancing integration between resources and technology, in addition to academic and research exchange.
This partnership supports the pivotal role of Dubai Municipality in planning, designing and managing the city in line with urban and economic strategies and the objectives of the Dubai Urban Plan 2040. It also strengthens Dubai’s position as a leading global center in urban planning and the future of sustainable development.