Sheikh Hamdan approves Dh18 billion projects to accelerate Dubai's future growth

Dubai: Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, on Wednesday approved a package of major initiatives and projects worth Dh18 billion, designed to enhance quality of life and shape a better future for residents. The initiatives span culture, trade, infrastructure, Emiratisation, finance, investment, urban planning, and population census.

The meeting of The Executive Council took place at Emirates Towers and was attended by Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai.

"During a meeting of The Executive Council, we approved a set of major initiatives and projects worth Dh18 billion. These include the Dubai Cultural Strategy 2033, comprising 40 strategic initiatives, and the Dubai Customs Strategy aimed at further strengthening Dubai's position as a global trade hub."

Hamdan said the Dubai Cultural Strategy 2033, led by Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, would see Dubai embark on an ambitious new path supporting the Dubai Plan 2033 and the Dubai Social Agenda 33, positioning the city as a global cultural reference rooted in the UAE's heritage. Built on four pillars and comprising 40 initiatives supported by five sectoral indicators and 23 key performance indicators, the strategy includes major initiatives such as the Dubai Cultural and Creative Innovation Programme, the UAE Heritage Design Challenge, and the Future Talents Development Programme. It aims to support over 6,000 local talents, attract more than 6,000 international creatives, increase Dubai's cultural asset footprint by over 200%, raise the sector's GDP contribution to 5.4%, and grow the value of public-private partnerships in the sector to Dh2.75 billion.

The Dubai Customs Strategy 2030 focuses on facilitating trade, strengthening economic partnerships, enhancing security and compliance, and improving the customer and partner experience, with the aim of ensuring seamless trade, boosting Dubai's global competitiveness, protecting communities, and consolidating Dubai's position as a global trade hub.

Sheikh Hamdan also approved the First Al Khail Street Development Plan, which will create a new strategic corridor parallel to Sheikh Zayed Road, featuring a 15-kilometre elevated roadway with three lanes in each direction that will serve 2.6 million people. Construction will begin in Q3 2027 and conclude in Q4 2030, using innovative technologies and modern construction methods to accelerate delivery without affecting traffic movement in the area. The project will provide access to Al Barsha, Al Quoz, Business Bay, and Meydan, reduce travel time on Sheikh Zayed Road by 51% during peak hours, and increase road network capacity by approximately 9,000 vehicles per hour.

"Additionally, we approved the 'Dubai Population Now' Real-Time Population Census and Growth Monitoring Initiative, which provides real-time data to support decision-making following Dubai's population surpassing 4.58 million at the end of 2025, and the Emirati Talents Strategy in Private Education to create opportunities for 3,000 Emiratis by 2033," the Crown Prince said.

Led by the Dubai Data and Statistics Establishment, part of the Dubai Digital Authority, 'Dubai Population Now' uses artificial intelligence and smart forecasting to provide a real-time population clock and support urban planning. Dubai's population rose by 332,000, or 7.5%, from 2024, enabling more precise policymaking in housing, education, health, and transport.

The Emirati Talents Strategy in Private Education aims to boost Emiratisation in the sector in support of the Dubai Education Strategy 2033, with key indicators including the percentage of Emiratis in teaching roles and turnover rates. Its initiatives include the Teacher Qualification and Accreditation Academy (Bridge to Teach), the Success Partners Programme, Flex Emiratisation, the Teaching Experience initiative (TeachXperience), and a pathway for employing retirees.

Crown Prince also approved the Dubai Investor Register, a unified platform for individual and institutional investors across the emirate, including the free zones. Supporting the Dubai Economic Agenda D33's target of Dh650 billion in foreign direct investment by 2033, the register allows companies and investors to operate across multiple zones without re-registering, meets Financial Action Task Force requirements, and reduces costs and operational burdens by unifying procedures and data.

He also approved a new visual identity for Dubai's address system, along with the launch of the Global Centre for Technology and Innovation in Islamic Finance. The new address system identity gives signage a distinctive urban character inspired by the emirate's environment and classified by urban sector, enhancing the identity of different areas and improving geographic orientation and ease of navigation in line with international best practices. It will expand to cover transport and residential services, with implementation across 186 areas by 2029.

The Global Centre for Technology and Innovation in Islamic Finance will be managed by the Dubai International Financial Centre with global partners, positioning Dubai as a leading hub for Islamic fintech as the sector's market is projected to reach $9.31 trillion by 2030. Key initiatives include the Islamic Finance Innovation Challenge, an innovation platform for Islamic banks and start-ups, and the Future Islamic Finance Forum on 4 November 2026, while the DIFC Academy will deliver a talent programme targeting over 3,000 trainees by 2031.

He added: "Under the leadership and vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai has become synonymous with ambition and achievement. Our development journey continues, our momentum never slows, and our initiatives keep evolving. The future will always be brighter for Dubai and its people."