His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has approved the Dubai Walk Master Plan (Dubai Walk), a visionary initiative aimed at transforming Dubai into a pedestrian-friendly city. H.H. Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the UAE’s Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, as well as the First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, were present when the plan was authorized.
The Dubai Walk Master Plan emphasizes accessibility, safety, and a pleasant walking experience. It will create a distinctive integrated network of walkways with unobstructed paths and increased green spaces.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said that enhancing the quality of life in Dubai remains a key focus of the emirate’s strategic vision. He emphasized that the creation of a unique, contemporary destination and creative infrastructure projects demonstrate Dubai’s international prominence and solidify its standing as the top city to visit, live, and work in.
His Highness said: “We have approved the Dubai Walk Master Plan, a 6,500 km network of modern walkways covering 160 areas across the emirate. The plan includes constructing 3,300 km of new walkways and rehabilitating 2,300 km of existing ones by 2040, in addition to more than 900 km of walkways planned beyond 2040. It also involves developing 110 pedestrian bridges and underpasses to enhance connectivity. This ambitious plan aims to increase pedestrian and soft mobility from 13% to 25% by 2040.”
His Highness added: “Dubai is a city of the future, committed to creating a healthy and happy urban environment. The Dubai Walk Master Plan promotes active lifestyles and provides exercise opportunities for all, making walking a central part of our culture and daily lives. This vision will position Dubai as one of the world’s healthiest and most sustainable cities.
His Highness examined the Dubai Walk Master Plan, which establishes design guidelines to guarantee smooth integration with each area’s unique character and describes development strategies for pathways through 2040.
H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman and CEO of Emirates Airline and Group; H.H. Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council; H.H. Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority; and Mohammed Ibrahim Al Shaibani, Director General of His Highness Among other high-ranking authorities are the Dubai Ruler’s Court, Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, and Mohammed bin Hadi Al Hussaini, Minister of State for Financial Affairs.
Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), welcomed His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to the Master Plan launch near the Museum of the Future. Al Tayer gave a thorough overview of the Dubai Walk Master Plan and how it will improve Dubai’s standing as a pedestrian and soft transportation hub on a global scale.
The Dubai Walk Master Plan intends to make Dubai a pedestrian-friendly city in line with the Quality of Life Strategy 2033 and the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan’s “20-Minute City” target, which calls for 80% of inhabitants to be able to access critical services within a 20-minute trip. To represent each area’s distinct identity, the plan aims to improve pedestrian safety, connect places with existing walkways, and include artistic and cultural features into soft mobility infrastructure. Along with encouraging students to provide unique ideas for pathway design and amenities, it also fosters collaboration with strategic partners to create cutting-edge infrastructure solutions.
The proposal is for building 3,300 km of new walkways and renovating 2,300 km of existing ones to create a network of 6,500 km connected pathways. The entire implementation will take place in three stages between 2027 and 2040, with the pilot phase lasting from 2025 to 2027.
To improve connectivity across metropolitan areas, the plan calls for the construction of 110 pedestrian bridges and underpasses. Bridges on Al Ittihad Road that connect Al Nahda and Al Mamzar, Tripoli Street that connects Al Warqa and Mirdif, Al Khawaneej Street that connects Mushrif and Al Khawaneej, and Dubai-Al Ain Road that connects Dubai Silicon Oasis and Dubailand are some of the major projects.
The project will perfectly connect major monuments, including the Burj Khalifa, Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai Marina, and Jumeirah Lakes Towers. Every route will have unique landscaping, lighting, colors, and decorations that capture the essence of the local community.
Greenery, shaded spots, misting systems, interactive digital screens, art exhibits, sporting and entertainment equipment, rest rooms, and business spaces will all be included into the walkways. Signage, ground markings, lighting, integrated pavements, art displays, and interaction with navigation systems and smart applications are all used to prioritize accessibility and safety.
Plans for the first phase of the pedestrian walkways, which would span 17 km and include two important routes, were evaluated by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed. The 15-kilometer Al Ras Historical Route in Al Ras and Al Souk Al Kabeer showcases the history of the emirate and includes 5 km along the revitalized waterfront with 25 restored public squares with green spaces, art exhibits, and shaded rest spots.
His Highness also reviewed the “The Future Loop” project, which will be executed at the Museum of the Future. This famous elevated walkway, which is 2 km long and 6 to 15 metres wide, easily connects the Dubai World Trade Centre, Museum of the Future, Emirates Towers, Dubai International Financial Centre, and adjacent metro stations.
The model of “The Future Loop,” which His Highness then inspected, showed off its links to ten important sites, a 30,000-square-meter air-conditioned level for year-round walking, and an additional 30,000 square meters of green, shaded open spaces. A public-private collaboration will be used to create the project, featuring commercial spaces.
Additionally, His Highness examined three different kinds of pedestrian walkway models. There are 150 km of rural and mountain trails, 124 km of green walks, 64 km of urban pathways, and 112 km of seaside pathways that make up the Scenic-Leisure Walkways. Al Rigga, Business Bay, Al Bada’a, and the Trade Centre are among the 30 locations where the City Connectivity Walkways concentrate on first- and last-mile links to public transportation. Starting with Al Barsha 2, Al Khawaneej 2, and Al Mizhar 1, the Community Walkways are intended to connect residential neighborhoods to neighboring attractions in 50 locations.
Furthermore, His Highness examined three urban space models. Four locations—the Etihad Museum, 2nd of December Street, Al Mamzar, and Mushrif—will be used to implement the first concept, Plazas. The first phase of the second model, Superblocks, will encompass Abu Hail, Al Fahidi, Al Quoz, and Al Karama. Four streets—Jumeirah, Baniyas, Al Khaleej, and Al Muraqqabat—will be converted into pedestrian-friendly areas using the third model, Boulevards.
Road infrastructure improvements in “The Future Loop” area, including as improvements to Al Mustaqbal Street and the Trade Centre Roundabout, were presented to H.H. Sheikh Mohammed. To improve traffic flow for seven neighboring districts and benefit roughly 500,000 locals and tourists, the project will build 6,200 meters of vehicle bridges and tunnels, turning the roundabout into a surface-level intersection. With these improvements, travel times will drop from eight minutes to little over three minutes, and road capacity will rise by 30% (from 9,000 to 12,000 cars per hour).
Six well-known international consulting firms participated in a global competition to find creative walkway designs for Al Ras and the Museum of the Future. For the Museum of the Future region, LXA’s winning idea was chosen. It envisioned a 2-kilometer iconic bridge that would complement icons like the Museum of the Future and reflect the area’s elegance and first-rate infrastructure. The bridge offers smooth pedestrian and soft transportation access, supporting the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan and the “20-Minute City” idea.
The elevated walkway creates a new tourist landmark and ensures efficient traffic and pedestrian movement while blending in with the area’s future design. The project encourages walking and soft mobility by implementing international best practices. In order to lower the temperature, the design incorporates air-conditioned areas, shaded spots, green spaces, and interactive areas for events and enjoyment. In order to promote metro use, the bridge includes three Red Line metro stations and links important attractions.
The Al Ras area design uses simple pathways and plaza improvements to maintain its historic character. Emphasis is placed on materials, simple designs, and harmonizing colors. The public areas in between historic buildings will be restored to provide green spaces, places for art and cultural exhibits, and places for resting under the shade. By utilizing the area’s natural layout, creative microclimate control will guarantee pedestrian comfort. The entire street plan will remodel roads to promote pedestrians and smooth mobility, and a variety of flooring materials will direct tourists to the main attractions.
A smart application that allows users to track and share their walking statistics (distance, duration, steps, and routes) will be released to encourage walking. Users will be able to save their favorite routes and get information on walkway features, amenities, and user ratings. A database of Dubai’s pedestrian network will also be included in the app, with information on nearby events, art exhibits, rest places, and sites of interest highlighted. Walking distances will earn points under a reward system, which can then be redeemed for savings or credits in a digital wallet.
