DUBAI- The planning department of Dubai Municipality has announced the smart sustainable city ‘Desert Rose’ project, which was recently approved by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.
Eng. Hussain Nasser Lootah, Director General of Dubai Municipality said: ‘The content of planning and urban development of the integrated smart sustainable city ‘Desert Rose’ has been prepared in accordance with the directives of Dubai Municipality leadership and approved by the government of Dubai in March 2014,’.
‘The project will be located in between Al Ruwaya and Al Aweer areas across the Emirates road towards the desert. The urban planning of the project would be in the shape of a desert flower in different colours in sync with the desert environment as a symbol of sustainability. The project will incorporate the entire requirements of citizens under one roof of the proposed city,’ Lootah said.
‘The city will adopt the sustainability standards in terms of economic, social, cultural and environmental aspects depending on the natural resources and renewable energy’ he said.
‘Since the civic body believes in the capability of the youth, it has launched a competition for the students at college and university level to collect their innovative ideas and suggestions in the implementation of the proposed smart city, where the top ten ideas will be awarded valuable prizes and appreciation,’ he added.
Eng. Dawood Al Hajiri, director of planning department explained the Important elements of the city saying that the project will include diversified and simple sustainable housing areas with general services and facilities, a city center that serves the economic, administrative and service activities which has an electronic train track connected with Dubai Metro.
‘The pedestrian path will be designed in an eco-friendly way that will be air conditioned during the hot season only and a green belt distinguished with its environmental and economical benefits that will be used for agricultural purposes,.
Service facilities that produce renewable energy and facilities for recycling wastes and sewage water for irrigation and gardening will be taken care of. Network with roads and transportation in sync with the land use and modern communication will be an added attraction.
The city will be developed taking into account the project objectives, geographical nature of the location and Dubai’s excellent vision about the future development , encompassing the elements such as , quality life, green development principles, support to the economic base of the city, privacy of the locality, urban design that reflects the sense of spatial mobility between public and private space, convenient and eco-friendly transportation confirming the public health and safety, reduction of dependence on private transport providing the housing along the metro line and stations, support to the use of electronic means of communication, rationalization of water for irrigation and agriculture, waste recycling, adoption of distinct sources of renewable energy and reduction of carbon footprint …etc.