Public transport, energy efficiency and environment are pillars of UAE's smart sustainable cities

Urban planners identify roadmap on UAE smart cities outlook at the Government Summit

Dubai, UAE; February 11, 2015: The overarching pillars of the UAE’s smart cities outlook are promoting public transport, energy efficiency and environmental sustainability, the country’s urban planners and experts, told delegates at the opening session on the third and final day of The Government Summit.

Organised under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the Summit had over the past days presenting compelling insights into the evolution of smart cities and the UAE’s vision for the future.

The plenary session on ‘UAE Smart Cities Outlook,’ at many levels, underlined how the country walks the talk and takes the lead in implementing initiatives that develop the smart and sustainability quotient of the nation.

The action plans presented by the three experts – HE Falah Mohamed Al Ahbabi, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council; HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority; and HE Eng. Hussain Nasser Lootah, Director General of Dubai Municipality – clearly reflected the forward-looking policies of the nation in all core areas of urban development.

The country’s approach highlighted how the UAE is already taking the lead in implementing strategies, several of them outlined for the first time this week by international experts at the Summit sessions as the way forward for cities of the future.

Highlighting the case for sustainability, HE Al Ahbabi said that Abu Dhabi has outlined its Vision 2030 with a clear focus on the environment, public transport and culture so as to touch upon all walks of life. “Our goal is to create a sustainable city where providing world-class services to our people is the foremost priority.”

HE Al Tayer underlined the measures adopted by DEWA in managing energy demand by promoting the rational use of energy and water resources, and diversifying energy sources.

“We have recently revised our targets for the share of renewable energy in the total energy mix to 7% by 2020 and 15% by 2030. We have also established Etihad Energy Services Company (Etihad ESCO) which is involved in promoting optimal energy use, developing an energy efficiency market and retrofitting more than 30,000 old buildings in Dubai.”

HE Eng. Lootah observed that the smart city concept embraced by Dubai frees up humanity to focus on innovation and creativity while robotics and AI will undertake the mundane jobs with great efficiency. “We are leveraging the power of technology to promote the welfare of the people by ensuring the highest levels of service standards.”

He said that strengthening public transport is of paramount importance in achieving a smart city of the future, and cited the example of Dubai Municipality’s Desert Rose project that will be linked to the Dubai Metro network and offer work-live environment for people in a sustainable community.

HE Al Ahbabi further stressed on the importance of promoting public transport as an important driver of smart, sustainable cities.

HE Lootah said that Dubai’s vision to offer smart communities that fulfill almost all needs of residents is fast becoming a reality, and underlined Dubai Municipality’s global address system, Makani, helps create a robust database that enables governments and the private sector to accelerate service delivery.

HE Al Tayer highlighted DEWA’s smart initiatives including the installation of solar photovoltaic panels on rooftops of buildings and homes. The solar power, thus generated, can be used to light up homes with the rest to be connected to DEWA’s grid. He added that the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park is another key initiative that will enhance the share of renewables, thus promoting sustainable development.

The Government Summit, held under the theme ‘Shaping Future Governments,’ featured over 50 insightful sessions by over 100 speakers who discussed the future of education, health services and smart cities, among others.