URB, a Middle Eastern design firm focused on sustainability, is planning to turn Dubai's Sheikh Zayed Road into a massive, environmentally friendly green highway. Here's everything you need to know.
Dubai began as a small fishing village on the Arabian Peninsula in the 1800s and has quickly become one of the world's biggest technological hubs for innovation. Following the discovery of massive oil hotspots in the Middle East in the 1950s, Dubai joined the United Arab Emirates in 1971, and now boasts a population of 3.7 million people with 15 million visitors per year. Unfortunately, as the city has grown into the so-called 'Manhattan of the Middle East,' a large carbon footprint has come with it. In 2010, one report by the World Wildlife Fund showed that the UAE had become the world's least environmentally friendly country due to its ultra-rich community and bold designs like artificial islands and numerous private jets, in addition to the city's high power usage.
However, the city is planning to change that. Through their new Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, they hope to become the world's most sustainable city. The plans include designs for more solar panels, more cloud seeding to increase rains, a more complex train network to decrease car usage, more renewable energy, and greener buildings.
To do that, they are partnering with URB -- the design firm responsible for the Dubai Reefs, Dubai Mangroves, Dubai's The Loop, and Dubai Urban Tech District -- to build the world's greenest highway, slated to be constructed in four stages over a 10-year period. The 'Green Spine,' as URB calls it, will be 40 miles long and will make Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai's most major highway, to become much more sustainable. Here's the breakdown of the plan:
The new highway will have roads on either side of a massive linear park, which will also contain an extensive metro network. These electric trams will be completely powered by renewable energy, similar to the rest of the complex. They are focusing on solar power in this project, as Dubai is located in a desert-- the park will be lined with solar panels the tracks for the trains will also contain them as well. The panels will be able to generate over 300 megawatts of renewable energy-- as a reference point, 300 MW can power around 130,000 homes in Dubai. URB has calculated that by using solar power instead of fossil fuels, carbon dioxide emissions can be reduced by approximately 1.15 million tons per year.
Meanwhile, a long walkway in the center and bikeways on either side of the train tracks will motivate citizens to get outside and socialize with one another while reducing the use of gas-powered vehicles. Around one million trees will also line the Green Spine, contributing to its sustainability and creating a greener, more pleasant environment to spend time in. URB has specifically focused on building the community, adding dog parks, playgrounds, and gardens.
In addition to these outdoor activities, numerous buildings will also be located in the center of the tracks, which can be used for everything from shopping to teaching.
Lastly, agricultural elements like vertical farms will also be added in, making the Green Spine an economical contributor as well.
URB has not announced when they will begin construction, but as it is in line with Dubai's goals for 2040 and is a 10-year plan, the latest that they would begin is expected to be 2030.