Dubai Municipality has unveiled the achievements of the first 100 days of the Urban Think Tank and Design Lab, highlighting its evolution into a collaborative platform that translates strategic visions into applied urban and experimental projects.

The announcement was made during a dedicated event attended by senior government officials, cultural leaders, private-sector representatives, academics, students, and international experts. Attendees included Abdulla Mohammed Al Basti, Secretary General of The Executive Council of Dubai; Mohammed Ahmed Al Murr, Chairman of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Library Foundation; Hala Badri, Director-General of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority; Ahmad Al Matrooshi, Executive Director of Emaar Properties; Muhammad Binghatti, Chairman of Binghatti Holding; and Francis Alfred, Managing Director of Sobha Realty.

Showcasing project outcomes from developers and students of the American University of Sharjah, the event also featured curated dialogue sessions exploring Dubai’s urban heritage and future development pathways. The proceedings concluded with the launch of an Urban Hackathon, underscoring the municipality’s shift toward participatory, experience-led urban planning.

Since its inception, the Urban Think Tank and Design Lab has built an ecosystem of 13 local and international partners spanning government, academia, and the private sector, supported by contributions from five global consultants and experts. Within its first 100 days, the Lab engaged more than 80 participants in co-design activities, conducting 35 innovation and ideation workshops that produced 45 design concepts for public spaces, walkways, façades, community areas, and residential and commercial environments. It also laid the groundwork for 25 ongoing urban projects, including a large-scale co-design workshop involving 65 specialists from 30 entities.

The event’s dialogue sessions explored Dubai’s urban memory and future direction. Mohammed Ahmed Al Murr delivered a keynote address on the historical significance of Dubai Creek in shaping the city’s identity, accompanied by rare photographs of Al Shindagha, and announced an upcoming publication titled “Memories of Old Al Shindagha.”

Urban design expert Adam Scott followed with a lecture titled Reimagining Urban Life Through Experience-Driven Design, highlighting the emotional and experiential dimensions that shape how people connect with cities.

On the sidelines, the Dubai Municipality hosted an Urban Hackathon focused on human-centered urban planning through behavioral and emotional analysis in historic districts. Foster + Partners, represented by Bruno Moser, shared global insights on quality of life and urban experience, emphasising the role of behavioural data in adaptive urban design.

The Hackathon’s findings identified opportunities to enhance Dubai’s urban environment and establish design principles to guide future planning and policymaking. It also aimed to create a unified design language connecting students, designers, developers, and government entities.

Commenting on the results, Marwan Ahmed bin Ghalita, Director-General of Dubai Municipality, said, “City-building today is no longer limited to infrastructure; it requires urban models driven by knowledge and designed around people’s quality of life. The Lab’s outcomes and the launch of the Urban Hackathon embody Dubai’s practical approach to participatory, data-informed planning.”

He added, “Within just one hundred days, the Urban Think Tank and Design Lab has demonstrated its capacity to transform ideas into projects and partnerships into tangible outcomes, enhancing neighbourhood quality, public spaces, and Dubai’s global competitiveness.”

The initiative aligns with Dubai Municipality’s broader goal of shaping a city driven by collaboration, knowledge, and human-centred design, reinforcing Dubai’s position as a global leader in future-ready urban development.