Dubai's Urban Planning Committee has awarded the contract to prepare the Dubai Urban Development Framework (DUDF), with support from environmental and engineering experts WSP Group.
The project, expected to be completed in 14 months, seeks to create an innovative, flexible and fully integrated development planning and management framework for Dubai to the year 2020 and beyond.
The contract is awarded to a consortium headed by Urbis (Australia).
A key driver for the vision of Dubai is the Dubai Strategic Plan 2015 (DSP).
The DSP articulates the collective vision and strategy of His Highness Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum,Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and the emirate's leadership. It focuses on economic development, social development, security, justice and safety, infrastructure, land and environment and public sector excellence.
Ahmad Bin Bayat, Secretary General of Dubai Executive Council, said: "The DUDF is an ambitious plan and places particular emphasis on the need for innovative thinking, while leading to the creation of new and exciting approaches to Dubai's city planning. The framework will also serve as the vehicle for translating DSP into an appropriate set of strategies, special plans, policies and guidelines." The DUDF will have three key modules:
A Vision for Dubai. An integrated city and regional development planning framework .
A legal and institutional framework.
The long term vision will provide clear direction and establish shared aspirations for the city, particularly in improving environmental, economic and social sustainability and business conditions in the city.
It will develop quality of life targets, seeking to firmly position Dubai within the short list of the world's most "liveable" places.
The Emirate-wide "city and regional planning framework" will seek to establish a strong integration between the increasingly complex governmental, quasi-governmental and private stakeholder relationships of the city.
Key elements of the framework will include: integrated land use and mobility, housing provision, economic and demographic growth, urban character and design, heritage management, integrated community facilities provision, civic harmony and sustainability strategy.
A new "legal and institutional framework" will assist in directing, managing and monitoring all planning and development activities in Dubai.
An appropriate urban management framework will be developed, identifying required resources, expertise and implementation "tools".
By Emirates Today Staff
© Emirates Today 2007
