Mattar Al Tayer, chairman of the Supreme Committee for Urban Planning in Dubai, recently visited Berlin to explore best practices in urban planning, infrastructure development, and sustainable transportation systems. His visit focused on reviewing innovative projects aimed at enhancing well-being, integrating public amenities, and fostering a more sustainable urban environment.
During his tour, Al Tayer visited the Radbahn Berlin project, a unique initiative that transforms the spaces beneath metro bridges into dynamic corridors for cyclists and pedestrians. The project seamlessly integrates transportation infrastructure, such as metro stations, with green spaces and public amenities, offering an improved urban experience for Berlin residents. This initiative reflects modern approaches to urban planning that combine functionality with sustainability.
Al Tayer also visited MOIA, a subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group specializing in sustainable urban transport. The company briefed him on its plans to establish the world’s first fully autonomous transportation network, demonstrating its commitment to advancing urban mobility through technology and innovation.
Another key stop on Al Tayer’s visit was the EUREF Campus in Berlin, a hub for sustainable innovation where start-ups, research institutions, and government bodies collaborate on solutions for renewable energy, green technology, and urban sustainability. This visit underscored the growing importance of public-private partnerships in addressing the challenges of urban growth, sustainability, and renewable energy.
At Schneider Electric’s exhibition, Al Tayer was introduced to the company’s latest energy and automation technologies, which are designed to create a more sustainable future. He reviewed innovations in smart energy monitoring systems, energy storage, and electric vehicle infrastructure, all of which could contribute to enhancing Dubai’s sustainable urban framework. The tour concluded with a visit to the zeemobase laboratory, a multimodal station powered by renewable energy that showcases how sustainable energy solutions can be applied to modern transportation systems.
Reflecting on the visit, Al Tayer emphasized the significance of learning from global cities like Berlin to address the strategic challenges Dubai faces, including population growth and the need for sustainability. “We aim to benefit from the experiences of leading global cities in urban planning to achieve the objectives of the Dubai Urban Plan 2040,” he stated. The plan envisions Dubai becoming the best city in the world to live in, offering sustainable, flexible mobility options, increasing green spaces by 105%, and ensuring that 80% of residents can access essential services within 20 minutes.
By 2040, Dubai aims for 55% of its residents to live within 800 meters of public transport stations, a crucial goal in making the city more livable and sustainable.
