Dubai approves planning law to encourage investment and sustainable development

Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan approved as the structural plan for the emirate

Beaches will be extended by 400 per cent and 60 per cent of Dubai will be nature reserves under the 2040 plan. Courtesy: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid / Twitter

Dubai has brought in a new urban planning law that it says will pave the way for development in the next two decades.

Sustainable building and the impact on the environment will be a major focus of the legislation, the government said on Tuesday.

Details were laid out as the city undergoes an unprecedented property boom, an influx of new residents and demand for new homes.

The law focuses on the need to improve co-ordination between authorities and stipulates responsibilities for each.

Few other details were released, though the law is part of the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, which seeks to boost the population from today's 3.5 million to 5.8 million.

Dubai Municipality will have sole responsibility for regulating the urban planning sector, a statement said.

Planning for the next 20 years

Sheikh Mohammed unveiled the Dubai 2040 Urban Plan in January last year, an outline of how the emirate will be developed over the next 20 years or so.

It envisaged large-scale changes to the landscape and skyline and paved the way for the next major residential and economic developments in the city.

The plan divided the city into five key areas of development, each focused on building on the emirate's strengths.

Deira and Bur Dubai will remain the beating heart of tradition, while Downtown Dubai and Business Bay are to act as the emirate's financial centre.

Dubai Marina and JBR will be at the forefront of tourism and entertainment and Expo City Dubai will be the international gateway for exhibitions and events, with Dubai Silicon Oasis a knowledge and innovation centre.

In December, Sheikh Mohammed outlined the next phase of the plan, which will ensure that supply meets demand in the property sector and the development of a 20-minute city, where residents can reach 80 per cent of their daily needs and destinations within 20 minutes on foot or by bicycle.

The plan also calls for high-yield agriculture and farming by identifying suitable locations and developing the infrastructure and facilities required to ensure food security.

Also under the plan, work is under way to develop the town of Hatta into an adventure attraction in the coming years around the existing lake and dam.

In May, Sheikh Mohammed approved a new master plan for Palm Jebel Ali – a luxury lifestyle mega project that will include 80 hotels and resorts, green spaces and other leisure and retail amenities spanning 13.4 square kilometres.

The project will add about 110km of coastline to Dubai, offering beachside living to 35,000 families.