Dubai allocates Dh2 billion for urban centres development

Dubai has approved an urban development programme worth more than Dh2 billion ($545 million), targeting higher property values, improved infrastructure and integrated communities across the emirate by 2040.
The Executive Council of Dubai endorsed the Urban Centres Development Plan at a meeting chaired by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE.
The programme is projected to increase real estate values in designated urban centres by Dh20 billion ($5.45 billion) by 2040, while improving connectivity, public services and access to employment.
The initiative covers six principal urban centres and 42 subsidiary centres, collectively accounting for approximately 12% of Dubai’s urban area. Implementation will be overseen by the Supreme Committee for Urban Planning and Dubai Municipality, working alongside other government entities.
The development strategy concentrates on three priorities: quality of life, economic returns and infrastructure efficiency. It seeks to create communities where residential neighbourhoods, commercial activities and essential services are more closely connected.
A central objective is increasing the proportion of residents living around metro stations from 52% to 74%. Public services coverage is expected to rise from 74% to 85%, reflecting efforts to reduce dependence on private vehicles and improve accessibility.
The government intends to encourage mixed-use developments, concentrate population and employment around public transport corridors and bring residential areas closer to workplaces.
Sheikh Hamdan said the investment would support integrated communities while ensuring that infrastructure development keeps pace with Dubai’s expanding population and economic activity.
The projected Dh20 billion increase represents an official development target rather than a guaranteed appreciation in property prices. Actual outcomes will depend on implementation, market conditions, infrastructure delivery and demand across the designated districts.
The Executive Council also approved a Sustainable Population Planning Policy designed to coordinate demographic expansion with economic development, infrastructure investment and public service provision.
The policy introduces a framework for assessing population growth forecasts and determining future requirements for housing, transport, education, healthcare and other essential facilities.
Authorities will use demographic information and projections to guide infrastructure planning, improve utilisation of existing facilities and ensure that public services remain sustainable as the population expands.
The framework also supports employment growth in high-productivity industries, aligning population planning with the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, which seeks to double the emirate’s economy by 2033.
Officials expect the policy to strengthen Dubai’s ability to attract skilled professionals, improve average household and individual incomes and increase purchasing power.
These objectives connect urban planning with wider economic priorities, including workforce development, business competitiveness and the creation of employment opportunities in sectors generating higher economic value.
The policy places particular emphasis on coordinating future development with population distribution, allowing authorities to identify areas requiring additional services and infrastructure before demand exceeds available capacity.
Dubai’s approach reflects growing pressure on urban infrastructure as residential expansion, commercial development and population growth create additional requirements for transport networks and community facilities.
The International Monetary Fund has previously identified rising residential property prices and strong international demand as significant features of Dubai’s property market, while observing that additional housing supply could help moderate price pressures.
Dubai’s property sector recorded transactions exceeding Dh917 billion during 2025, according to government figures, underscoring the importance of coordinating urban investment with changing market requirements.
The Executive Council separately approved a Digital Authorisation System enabling individuals and companies to authorise representatives to complete eligible government transactions electronically.
Developed and operated by Digital Dubai, the platform is intended for low-risk transactions that do not require notarisation or formal legal attestation.
The system will allow users to create, manage and activate authorisations through a secure digital process, with identity verification provided through UAE PASS.
Authorities have established targets including a fully digital customer experience, effectiveness against fraud and operational risks, and a Customer Effort Index score of 90%.
The platform is designed to reduce administrative procedures and provide a unified mechanism for delegating government transactions across participating services.
Sheikh Hamdan said the digital initiative would support Dubai’s ambition to improve government service efficiency and accessibility.
Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, attended the Executive Council meeting alongside Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai.