The Dubai Government yesterday announced plans to build a Dh1.1 billion smart city in Dubai Silicon Oasis technology park.
Silicon Park, which will span an area of 150,000 square metres and include offices, homes, a business hotel, restaurants and shops, is scheduled for completion towards the end of 2017.
“This project is in line with the vision … to transform Dubai into the smartest city in the world over the course of the next three years,” said Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the chairman of Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority (DSOA), the body that regulates Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO).
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, first announced plans to turn the emirate into a smart city last October.
A main component of the plan is to provide all Dubai residents with high-speed internet in public places and furnish them with round-the-clock access to government departments and services.
The DSOA started installing free Wi-Fi within DSO last December and wireless internet access should be available across the entire 7.2 square kilometre free zone by the second half of this year.
Cars will be banned from Silicon Park, which instead will be served by electric vehicles and bikes. Charging stations will be installed across the development.
Buildings will meet the UAE's green building regulations and be constructed from "green" materials; solar panels will provide electricity and double-glazed windows will cut heat absorption. The scheme will also include measures to achieve efficiency in energy consumption: smart lighting systems, for example, with motion sensor systems will respond to traffic and individuals.
Recycling technologies to cut water consumption will be installed in homes and recycling posts will be available to residents.
Silicon Park will have charging docks for smart devices on the street and smart pop-up furniture.
There are as yet no details available about such furniture but they may include the likes of advertising billboards that are designed for sitting on or sheltering beneath.
“Development projects can be described as ‘smart’ when they can provide a quality living and work environment and a wise management of natural resources,” explained Mohammed Al Zarooni, the vice chairman and chief executive of DSOA. “The Silicon Park project is a true example of what the future will be like in live-work environments connected to the internet and smart applications.”
lgutcher@thenational.ae
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