Dubai Announces Plans To Become A 20-Minute City

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has revealed an updated strategic plan for 2024-2030, which will help the emirate reach its goal of becoming the world’s most liveable city.

The Dubai “20-minute city” plan aims to make urban areas easily accessible by ensuring that 80% of regular journeys can be completed in a maximum of 20 minutes on foot or by bicycle.

On Sunday, December 10, 2023, Dubai’s Higher Committee for Strategic Planning and Corporate Transformation at the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced that it aims to achieve 5 key objectives relevant to “integrated and innovative mobility”. The goals align with the Dubai Urban Plan 2040, which aims to make the UAE the world’s most liveable destination.

The latest plan is designed to facilitate the roads and transport development, creating systems that will support the 20-minute city plan and emphasizing accessibility and “multi-modal transport integration”. Officials also aim to expand smart mobility services.

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“RTA’s future entails studying and deploying integrated and soft mobility solutions along with connected and real-time mobility systems and self-driving transport. RTA intends to operate self-driving Chevrolet Bolt autonomous electric vehicles, positioning Dubai as the first city in the world to operate American Cruise self-driving vehicles outside the USA,” said Mattar Al Tayer, Director General Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA.

Dubai’s latest objectives follow a list of ideas first revealed in 2021. Officials explained that they aimed to have around half of the population living within 800 meters of the nearest public transport hub and that space used for hotels and tourist activities would be increased by 134%. In addition, land designated for educational and health facilities would be increased by 25%.