Hamdan bin Mohammed Approves New Urban Planning Model for Residential Areas in Dubai.

Dubai has taken another major step in advancing its long-term urban development strategy with the approval of a new planning model focused on enhancing residential neighbourhoods and strengthening family-centric community design. His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council, endorsed a number of policies aimed at improving housing, digital infrastructure and urban planning across the emirate.

The announcement complements the Year of the Family initiative and supports Dubai Social Agenda 33, which prioritises family wellbeing and community cohesion as essential elements of the emirate’s future.

Image : Dubai Media Office

A Framework Built Around Family and Community

The new residential planning model aims to create more socially connected communities that provide citizens with improved access to services, parks, community spaces and neighbourhood facilities. It reinforces Dubai’s commitment to developing residential environments that encourage strong family values and provide opportunities for social engagement.

Sheikh Hamdan emphasised that these developments are designed to build a future that places citizens and families at the centre of urban growth, ensuring that Dubai continues to evolve as an exemplary modern city while maintaining cultural values and community identity.

Reviving the Traditional ‘Fareej’ Concept

A key feature of the new model is a renewed focus on the traditional Fareej concept — the neighbourhood cluster that historically shaped Emirati social life. This approach promotes greater interaction among residents, encourages community activities, and integrates essential services within close walking distance.

Parks, schools, health centres, and daily amenities are planned to be accessible through shaded walkways and pedestrian-friendly paths, supporting more integrated and healthier lifestyles.

Expanding Green Spaces and Walkability

The plan introduces interconnected community parks and pedestrian routes that support Dubai’s 20-Minute City concept. Residents will be able to walk or cycle to nearby facilities without relying on vehicles, reducing travel distances and improving overall liveability.

Across the selected residential areas, plans include a network of parks, active corridors and open spaces designed to encourage outdoor activity and community participation. In total, 152 new parks will be added, while cycling and walking paths will extend for more than 33 kilometres.

Development Plans in Madinat Latifa and Al Yalayis

Two areas will be developed under this new model.

Madinat Latifa

• Approximately 3,000 hectares

• Capacity for 141,000 residents

• 18,500 residential units

• 77 parks

• 12 kilometres of walking and cycling paths

Al Yalayis

• 1,108 hectares

• Capacity for 66,000 residents

• 8,000 residential plots

• 75 new parks

• A central green corridor linking residential clusters

Advancing Digital Resilience

Alongside the urban planning model, The Executive Council also approved the Digital Resilience Policy — a framework designed to strengthen Dubai’s digital infrastructure and ensure continuity of digital services. The strategy supports Dubai’s transformation goals by enhancing cybersecurity, improving operational readiness and enabling faster response mechanisms across digital platforms.

The policy aligns with existing digital strategies that focus on simplifying services for residents, promoting technological innovation and enabling a competitive digital economy.

A Long-Term Vision for a Sustainable Dubai

The newly approved plans support the objectives of the Dubai Urban Plan 2040 and Dubai Plan 2033 by reinforcing sustainability, enhancing community wellbeing and developing modern residential environments rooted in cultural identity.

By prioritising family welfare, social cohesion and digital readiness, Dubai continues to strengthen its position as a global model for innovative, sustainable city development and a leading destination for modern urban living.

Source Dubai Media Office