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Dubai approves $544.6 million investment plan targeting $5.4 billion in real estate value by 2040
The plan covers six main urban centers and 42 supporting sub-centers, accounting for 12% of Dubai’s urban area.
Dubai has approved more than $544.6 million in investments under a new urban development plan targeting a $5.4 billion increase in real estate value across designated urban centers by 2040.
The Urban Centers Development Plan was approved during a meeting of Dubai’s Executive Council, chaired on Tuesday by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of the UAE.
Overseen by the Supreme Committee for Urban Planning and Dubai Municipality in collaboration with relevant entities, the plan covers six main urban centers and 42 supporting sub-centers, accounting for 12% of Dubai’s urban area.
The initiative focuses on three priorities: quality of life, economic returns, and infrastructure efficiency and cost. Measures include concentrating residential and employment areas around mass transit stations, diversifying land use and bringing homes closer to workplaces.
The plan aims to increase the share of residents living near metro stations from 52% to 74% and expand public service coverage from 74% to 85%, improving access to transport and essential services.
Sheikh Hamdan said the initiative aims to develop integrated communities that support sustainable growth and improve residents’ quality of life, while strengthening Dubai’s attractiveness as a place to live, work and invest.
The Executive Council also approved the Sustainable Population Planning Policy, which links demographic forecasts with economic and urban development plans to guide future infrastructure and service requirements.
The policy aims to improve the use of existing infrastructure, enhance service efficiency and ensure capacity keeps pace with population growth.
It also supports job creation in high-productivity sectors in line with the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, while seeking to attract skilled workers, increase household incomes and strengthen purchasing power.
Sheikh Hamdan said the policy would help align economic growth with the needs of residents and businesses, while supporting Dubai’s efforts to attract talent and investment.
The council also approved a Digital Authorization System for individuals and companies, allowing users to authorize others to complete eligible transactions on their behalf through a platform developed and operated by Digital Dubai.
The system will cover low-risk services that do not require notarisation or legal attestation, using UAE PASS for identity verification and enabling paperless management of authorisations.
It targets a fully digital customer experience, 100% effectiveness in combating fraud and operational risks, and a 90% Customer Effort Index score. Sheikh Hamdan said the initiative would strengthen Dubai’s position as a global leader in accessible, efficient and integrated digital government services.
