DM announces suggestion competition on ‘Desert Flower’ project for

DUBAI- The planning department of Dubai Municipality has announced a suggestion competition for native students at college and university level for the smart sustainable city ‘Desert Flower’ project.

Eng. Hussain Nasser Lootah, Director General of Dubai Municipality said: ‘The content of planning and urban development of the integrated smart sustainable city ‘Desert Flower’ has been prepared in accordance with the directives of Dubai Municipality leadership and approved by the government of Dubai in March 2014,’.

‘The project is 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.

‘Hence, the project is looking for innovative ideas and suggestions of the new generation with the aim to meet their expectations as well as to give them opportunity to build their own future in line with the vision and strategy of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum who said “The history is the result of our achievements in the future rather than our accomplishments in the past”, he 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 inspired by the positive energy of the nation’s youth generation,’ he further said.

‘Since the civic body believes in the capability of the youth, it launches this 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 as much as possible 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 as much as possible …etc.

Al Hajiri also shed light on the rules and relations to participate in the contest and said the proposal must be submitted by university and college students of various disciplines in line with the smart and sustainable directives and vision of the municipality. The proposal must be new, creative and innovative, be submitted within 45 days from the date of advertisement, sending to the project email with the personal data of the proposer ( Name – university or college – discipline – phone number) .

The type of proposal (individual/group) should be mentioned in the e-mail . 10 top proposals will be honoured and rewarded. The cash prize of AED 30,000 for first place , 20,000 for second place and 10,000 for third place will be given. Cash award of AED 5,000 will be given for the fourth to tenth places.