HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, last month (February) unveiled the ‘Blue and Green Spaces Roadmap 2030’ at the World Governments Summit as part of a comprehensive strategic vision to develop a balanced and integrated urban ecosystem.

The roadmap includes a portfolio of projects valued at more than AED4 billion ($1.1 billion), thus reinforcing the emirate’s position as a leading global sustainable city that harnesses nature to enhance human wellbeing, said a Wam report.

It reflects Dubai Municipality’s approach to developing a cohesive system that transforms infrastructure corridors into key enablers of quality of life and sustainability.

By 2030, the Blue and Green Spaces Roadmap will redefine residents’ everyday experience in Dubai by transforming nature into an active element of the city’s infrastructure and improving access to parks, sports facilities, coastlines, and beach destinations.

The roadmap targets the planting of 1.5 million trees over five years, the implementation of more than 45 landscaping and beautification projects, and the addition of 120 new parks covering nearly 3 million sq m.

It promotes a balanced urban environment that integrates public facilities, parks, beaches, waterfronts, afforestation, agriculture, biodiversity conservation, and advanced recycling and treatment systems, reported Wam.

The roadmap represents a significant step in Dubai’s approach to future city-making, strengthening its global leadership in quality of life, urban sustainability, and the development of human-centred governance models for future cities

It also includes 200 sports and recreational spaces seamlessly integrated into green networks, aligning with the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan.