Global inspirations for Dubai’s ‘walkability’ mission

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In its fresh embrace of pedestrians Dubai can look to many cities with extreme climates – both hot and cold – for inspiration, but must approach its walkability ambitions methodically and comprehensively, industry experts say.

Dubai’s Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum unveiled the new Walk Master Plan on December 7, promising it would make “walking a central part of our culture and daily lives” and turn the city into “one of the world’s healthiest and most sustainable”.

The plan spans 3,300km of new walkways and 2,300km of upgraded ones by 2040, and another 900km to be built after that, according to a government press release. 

It also envisions the construction of 110 bridges and underpasses with the aim of increasing pedestrian and cycling mobility from 13 percent to 25 percent of the total in 15 years.

“Cities like Sydney and Melbourne are excellent examples of how a strong focus on the quality of the public realm can transform urban life,” says Doug Voigt, an urban design and planning partner at Chicago-based architecture firm SOM. “European cities such as Copenhagen and London have successfully transformed public space through strategies that prioritize cycling, public transportation, and active public spaces.”

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A central feature of the project, the “Future Loop,” will connect landmarks such as the Dubai World Trade Centre, Museum of the Future, Emirates Towers, Dubai International Financial Centre and nearby metro stations through an elevated 2km bridge.

The Burj Khalifa, Dubai Marina and Jumeirah Lakes Towers will also have access to the new infrastructure, which will be installed in four phases between 2025 and 2040, and take Dubai closer to the “20-minute city” envisioned in its 2040 Urban Master Plan. 

According to Todd Litman, founder and executive director of the Victoria Transport Policy Institute in Canada, it is vital the walkways reach deep across the city and are not limited to tourist sites for walkability to truly increase in Dubai. 

Every school, park, metro station and commercial district should benefit, notes Litman, who travelled to Dubai to engage in transportation-related consultations in 2008, 2017 and 2023.

“I’m very happy that Dubai has developed a plan, but I am also aware that in a lot of cases these end up being somewhat token,” Litman says. ”In many cities around the world, walking doesn’t get a lot of respect.”

The pedestrian bridges, the government says, will link Al Nahda to Al Mamzar, Al Warqa to Mirdif, Mushrif to Al Khawaneej and Dubai Silicon Oasis to Dubailand, among others. 

The walking paths will wind their way through the waterfront, residential areas and commercial districts such as Business Bay, Al Bada’a and Al Barsha 2. 

According to Simona Azzali, an associate professor at the Canadian University Dubai’s Department of Architecture, authorities should already apply the Walk Master Plan to neighbourhoods in development, as planning ahead is easier and cheaper than retrofitting. 

“Dubai’s current urban landscape, characterised by multi-lane highways, grade-separated interchanges, and large super blocks, poses significant obstacles to creating a seamless walking experience,” she says. 

The walkways will enjoy greenery, shade, water misting and entertainment through screens, sports equipment and retail, according to the government press release.

But, Litman warns, plants and trees might not be enough to protect walkers from Dubai’s extreme summer heat. 

“Everybody loves trees, I love trees, but you can’t plant trees everywhere, and the palm trees that you have in Dubai are too skinny and don’t provide enough shade,” he says. “To be effective, the pedways will have to be engineered.”

That will require extra funds, but in an amount that pales in comparison to what most municipalities around the world put into car-focused infrastructure, according to Litman. 

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Singapore, Doha, Montreal and Chicago are among the global cities that have made strides in supporting residents’ ability to walk despite harsh climates.

In his research, Litman has found the same approach to building networks of heated “pedways” above or underground typical of North American towns can easily be reversed to offer air-conditioned equivalents in arid, desert weather.

“It actually takes more energy to heat than to cool,” he says.

“And it just so happens that the need for cooling coincides with the maximum solar gain, so when well planned, your air-conditioning system can operate quite efficiently.”

Dubai does not have to reach to the far north, or extreme weather locations, for ideas.

Alamy va Reuters

The development of Msheireb Downtown Doha in Qatar, with its tradition-inspired narrow and shady streets, “deep roof overhangs, recessed windows, and ground-level arcades” could inform the emirate’s efforts to cool walkaways naturally, according to Azzali.  

In Singapore, the Park Connector Network comprises more than 300km of paths and covered walkways linking residential communities to transport and amenities. Those, too, are not artificially cooled since Singapore has a wet and hot tropical climate that is somewhat less extreme than Dubai’s. 

Finally, the north Italian city of Bologna, which has hot summers and cold winters, is world-renowned for its 62km worth of medieval porticos, which make it a Unesco world heritage site. 

“While not originally designed for this purpose, the porticos provide shelter from rain and sun,” says Azzali. 

According to Voigt from SOM, who has worked on the master plan for the environmental-focused Sultan Haitham City under development in Oman, the entire Gulf stands to benefit from a rejigging of transportation priorities. 

“Walkability can be a platform for more than just mobility—it can also catalyze cultural vibrancy and economic activity,” says Voigt. “These principles, when tailored to the unique character of each city, can help transform urban life across the region.”