SOURCE : EODB NEWS | PUBLISHED : 21 MAY 2025
Dubai has long been a global symbol of visionary urban development and future-forward infrastructure, and its project — the Dubai Green Spine — reaffirms that reputation. This transformative urban development initiative is poised to redefine the Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Road (E311) into a 64-kilometre-long sustainable corridor, setting a new global benchmark for green highways and integrated urban planning. Positioned as the “world’s greenest highway,” this landmark project embodies Dubai’s commitment to innovative, sustainable, and community-focused development.
Envisioned as more than an infrastructural upgrade, the Green Spine is a strategic move to reshape the way Dubai moves, breathes, and grows. It integrates environmental stewardship, advanced mobility solutions, and public engagement into a single cohesive urban framework that will directly improve the quality of life for millions of residents and visitors.
A Strategic Pillar of Dubai’s 2040 Urban Vision
This ambitious initiative aligns closely with the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, which anticipates the city’s population rising to nearly 8 million residents by 2040. In response to this rapid expansion, the Green Spine seeks to balance growth with sustainability, enhancing urban mobility while improving environmental quality and creating inclusive, human-centric public spaces. It serves as a future-ready model for other cities navigating the twin challenges of rapid urbanisation and climate change.
The Green Spine aims to do far more than alleviate traffic congestion. It intends to convert a traditionally car-dominated arterial road into a multifunctional public realm, seamlessly blending transport infrastructure with nature and community life. By prioritizing non-motorized transport options, renewable energy integration, and extensive greenery, the project significantly contributes to reducing the city’s carbon footprint while improving air quality and reducing urban heat.
Commenting on the significance Dubai Green Spine initiative, Mr. Abhijeet Sinha, Program Director at NHEV (National Highway for Electric Vehicles, India) and a prominent voice in the sustainable mobility space, stated:
“While e-Highways connect cities, the real challenge lies within them. Dubai’s Green Spine initiative is a bold step towards integrating clean mobility corridors inside urban cores. This pilot will offer us critical insights on cost, feasibility, and scalable models, making it easier for other cities to replicate and transform their crowded, polluted city centres into green, breathable, low-emission zones.”
– Mr. Abhijeet Sinha, Program Director at NHEV (National Highway for Electric Vehicles, India)
Key Features of the Dubai Green Spine
At the heart of the Green Spine project lies a holistic vision of what a 21st-century highway should be. It incorporates electric trams, cycling lanes, and pedestrian pathways, offering safe, efficient, and clean alternatives to private car use. This multi-modal approach not only reduces dependency on cars but also creates a connected, accessible cityscape where residents and visitors can navigate their environment sustainably.
In tandem with its mobility overhaul, the Green Spine introduces a continuous linear park along the highway’s stretch. Over one million new trees will line the route, mitigating heat, improving air quality, and fostering urban biodiversity. These green spaces will become crucial ecological and recreational assets for the city, transforming the highway into a green lung for Dubai.
What truly sets the project apart, however, is its integration of cultural, educational, and recreational spaces. Scattered along the corridor, these hubs will serve as vital community touchpoints, where residents can engage in sustainable practices, enjoy public art and performances, and participate in wellness activities. This convergence of mobility, ecology, and culture establishes the Green Spine as a dynamic social artery, not merely a transportation route.
The Vision Behind the Transformation
The Dubai Green Spine is the brainchild of URB, the globally acclaimed urban planning firm also behind transformative projects like Dubai Mangroves, Dubai Reefs, and The Loop. Led by CEO Baharash Bagherian, URB has positioned the Green Spine as a bold reimagining of what highways can be in the era of climate consciousness and urban well-being.
A Technologically Advanced Smart Corridor
In addition to its ecological and social benefits, the Dubai Green Spine integrates cutting-edge technology and smart urban planning principles. The corridor will feature IoT-enabled infrastructure, real-time traffic and mobility management systems, and energy-efficient, adaptive building designs. This approach positions the highway not just as an eco-friendly passage but also as a benchmark in smart city solutions. This technological backbone ensures that the Green Spine is not only fit for current needs but also adaptable to future advancements and environmental challenges, making it a future-proof asset for Dubai’s urban infrastructure
Driving Economic Growth and Social Cohesion
Beyond environmental and technological milestones, the Green Spine plays a crucial role in fostering economic opportunities and strengthening community bonds. The creation of commercial hubs, cultural spaces, and community centres along the corridor will stimulate local businesses, support job creation, and encourage tourism.
Meanwhile, educational and recreational programs will promote community engagement, offering residents opportunities to connect, learn, and participate in cultural events. This transformation of the highway into a dynamic urban ecosystem ensures that diverse neighbourhoods are better connected, both physically and socially.
A Global Model for Sustainable Urban Highways
Through its comprehensive design that fuses functionality with beauty, technology with ecology, and mobility with community engagement, the Dubai Green Spine is set to become a global exemplar in sustainable urban highways. As cities worldwide grapple with the dual imperatives of accommodating rapid growth while mitigating climate risk, this project offers a clear, practical, and inspiring blueprint for the highways of tomorrow.
It demonstrates how highways — historically symbols of congestion and pollution — can evolve into green, smart, and economically strategic urban assets, playing an essential role in shaping healthier, more resilient cities for the 21st century.
SOURCE : EODB NEWS | PUBLISHED : 21 MAY 2025
