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Sustainable Smart Cities in the UAE support both national and global efforts to reduce carbon emissions and provide a sustainable way of life that preserves environmental resources for future generations.
What are smart sustainable cities?
They are innovative cities whose goal is to improve the quality of life, increase the efficiency of urban services, and enhance competitiveness, using information and communication technology, while ensuring the satisfaction of the economic, social, environmental, and cultural needs of both current and future generations.
Foundations of smart cities
Sustainable cities are built on a foundation of technology, relying on digital infrastructure and support for interoperability, with the support of smart electronic automation.
The development of sustainable cities in various countries around the world has been aided by the following foundations:
1- Artificial intelligence:
Artificial intelligence helps provide sustainable solutions for populations and enhance the decision-making process in smart cities, including more efficient management of energy, water, and waste, as well as reducing pollution, noise, and traffic congestion.
2- Internet of Things
The Internet of Things (IoT) is a rapidly growing network of computing devices that connect to the internet, equipped with sensors and embedded software to communicate with each other and share data. This allows billions of devices with smart sensors to connect, gather information, and then send it wirelessly to central control systems.
The IoT technology contributes significantly to improving many urban processes and services, such as traffic management and reducing energy consumption.
3- Digital Twin Technology
Digital twin technology provides solutions to complex problems that cities may face. It helps in creating simulation processes that facilitate the planning of smart cities that consider population growth and climate change. Additionally, this dual technology contributes to monitoring noise and pollution and predictive maintenance for future urban services.
One of the drawbacks of digital twin technology is that the large volumes of data it requires, in addition to advanced computing power, may exacerbate the digital divide, especially between high-income and low-income countries. Furthermore, the success of a digital twin depends on the availability of accurate, reliable, and interoperable data.
4- Smart grids and meters
Smart grids and meters help improve energy efficiency in cities by utilizing digital automation to detect and interact with local changes in usage. Smart meters and sensor-equipped devices with Internet Protocol (IP) addresses also provide users with information about their energy usage, allowing greater control over their energy consumption.
5- Robots
Sustainable cities rely on robots and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to support the provision of services in various fields such as transportation, healthcare, surveillance, manufacturing, and construction.
Sustainable Cities Index 2022
Dubai ranked 9th globally out of 118 cities in the Sustainable Cities Index 2022, issued by the International Institute for Administrative Development in partnership with the Singapore University of Technology and Design.
With this ranking, Dubai has advanced 20 places worldwide compared to the Smart Cities Index 2021, in which it ranked 29th, while Abu Dhabi ranked 28th.
The evaluation of sustainable smart cities is based on eight criteria:
Top 10 smart cities in the world 2022
1. Amsterdam
2. Barcelona
3. Berlin
4. Brisbane
5. Brussels
6. Busan
7. Chicago
8. Copenhagen
9. Dubai
10.Dublin
Smart sustainable cities in the UAE
Sustainable Cities in Abu Dhabi
One of the most important goals of Abu Dhabi’s Economic Vision 2030 is to shift its economic base from natural resources to knowledge and innovation and to export advanced technologies. This will lead to the provision of several new economic alternatives and hence diversify the economy.
The third priority in the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030 plan is to develop appropriate infrastructure while preserving the environment, which includes the establishment of a smart city by developing a professionally designed urban environment in the towns and cities of the emirate.
This is in addition to completing world-class transportation and traffic systems. Masdar City serves as a great example of a sustainable smart city regionally and globally.
1- Masdar City
The city of Masdar in Abu Dhabi is considered the first attempt in the Middle East to build a sustainable city aimed at reducing energy and water usage, as well as minimizing pollution and waste, by harnessing solar panel technology installed on building rooftops to generate clean electricity.
The sustainable city of Masdar’s development began in 2006, and the main plan for the city included the following elements:
2. Utilizing solar energy in the city on a wider scale through the development of efficiency gains and optimal guidance for the energy network.
3. Integrating the various aspects of life in the city to improve the quality of life and increases the happiness index of its inhabitants.
4. Providing housing in affiliated locations and developing advanced public facilities to reduce reliance on private vehicles and traditional modes of transportation.
5. Designing low-rise buildings.
6. Providing a high-quality life in a sustainable environment.
The city was designed by blending traditional Arab architecture with modern technology while taking advantage of the fresh air flow that provides its inhabitants with cool temperatures during the summer heat.
New projects in Masdar City must achieve at least a 3-pearl rating under the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council’s framework for sustainable green building standards.
The city is home to the headquarters of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), a global governmental organization that aims to promote the adoption of renewable energy worldwide.
2-Zayed Smart City Project:
In 2018, the Urban Planning and Municipalities Department in Abu Dhabi launched the experimental phase of the Five-Year Plan for Smart Cities and Artificial Intelligence (2018-2022) under the name “Zayed Smart City Project”. This initiative aims to manage urban infrastructure efficiently using advanced technologies such as information technology and the Internet of Things (IoT).
Sustainable cities in Dubai
The Dubai Urban Plan 2040 aims to achieve sustainable urban development centered around human beings, which enhances the quality of life and contributes to the global competitiveness of the Emirate, in addition to providing numerous options for citizens, residents, and visitors over the next 20 years.
Dubai sought to make it a sustainable smart city during its Dubai Plan 2021, through the “Dubai Smart City Project” which adopts a strategy aimed at digitizing about 1,200 government services in sectors such as transportation, infrastructure, communications, financial services, urban planning, and electricity.
These sectors were formed through a set of initiatives within the Dubai Smart City project, including:
• Smart transportation.
• Smart parks and beaches.
• Easy and open access to data.
• Improving energy resources and optimizing their use.
• Smart mobile applications for the police.
• Five-dimensional control room.
Additionally, the Emirate implemented an initiative through the Dubai Smart City project to integrate all government entities and transform them into a single institution, with the aim of providing comprehensive services to customers easily and efficiently.
Regarding the projects included under the “Smart Devices Applications” initiative, they consist of three tracks:
1- Smart Lifestyle, which specializes in sectors such as health, education, transportation, communications, public facilities, and energy services.
2- Smart Economy, which involves the development of smart companies, port services, smart stock markets, and smart jobs.
3- Smart Tourism, which aims to provide a smart and comfortable environment for visitors to the emirate of Dubai, starting from visa issuance, passing through smart aviation and gates, and reaching smart hotel services.
The following are some of the sustainable smart cities under construction in the Emirate of Dubai:
1- The Sustainable City
The Sustainable City is in Dubai Land and consists of residential and office units that operate using solar energy, through the solar panels present on the properties’ facades and roofs.
The city is known for being car-free, while containing 11,000 trees and a home-grown organic farm, with an integrated strategy for treating sewage, and household waste, and using organic cleaning materials, green products, and other low-carbon initiatives.
The Sustainable City in Dubai won the “Happiest Residential Community in the GCC” award during the first Gulf Real Estate Awards ceremony launched by the Dubai Land Department.
2- Dubai Silicon Oasis
Dubai Silicon Oasis project embodies Dubai’s plan to transform the emirate into a smart city, after it succeeded in early 2016 in reducing energy consumption by 31%, exceeding the goal set by Dubai’s Integrated Energy Strategy 2030 to reduce energy by 30%.
Currently, the project is working on several initiatives being implemented as part of Dubai’s Clean Energy Strategy 2050, which aims to make Dubai a global center for clean energy and a green economy by supporting energy efficiency increasing reliance on solar power, and reducing operating costs, and carbon emissions.
3- Dubai South
Dubai South is the largest urban real estate development project in the emirate, and because it is a free economic zone and an investment destination with advanced infrastructure, it was chosen to be the site for hosting Expo 2020.
And the Dubai South project is located in a strategic location near several important facilities, where it is:
• 5 minutes away from Al Maktoum International Airport.
• 45 minutes from Dubai International Airport.
• 45 minutes from Abu Dhabi International Airport.
• 30 minutes from the Burj Khalifa and downtown Dubai.
The project provides the latest advanced technologies for smart and sustainable cities throughout the residential area, which have been designed to provide all the elements of happiness and well-being for individuals first and foremost, through the creation of a vibrant community that includes all service facilities such as schools, nurseries, hospitals, stores, and more.
4- Desert Rose City
The Desert Rose City in the Al Ruwais area along the Dubai-Al Ain Road is designed in the shape of a “desert flower” to reduce electricity consumption, embodying Dubai’s vision of adopting sustainable urbanism to protect the environment.
The city uses green tech to reduce temperatures, purify air, and relies on renewable energy and self-recycling waste.
The project has 30,000 residential plots, providing a healthy life in a smart, sustainable, and clean environment. The first phase will accommodate around 160,000 people, including 120,000 citizens, based on cultural sustainability.
Sharjah Sustainable City
The Sustainable City in Sharjah, located in the Al Rahmaniya area, embodies the vision of the emirate in creating a sustainable and happy community at a global level in the United Arab Emirates.
The City is Sharjah’s first sustainable community, jointly developed by Sharjah Investment and Development Authority “Shurooq” and Diamond Developers. It runs entirely on clean and renewable energy sources.
The project adopts the highest global sustainability standards, where the city will produce all its energy through solar panels, recycle 100% of its wastewater, and fully manage its waste recycling processes. Additionally, it will provide fruits and vegetables to its residents from its urban farms and biodomes, which will cover most of its green spaces.
