Dubai Municipality has marked the first 100 days of its Urban Think Tank and Design Lab, revealing its evolution into an active co-design platform delivering practical urban solutions aligned with the city’s long-term vision and strategic priorities.
The milestone was announced at a dedicated event attended by senior government officials, cultural leaders, developers, academics, students, and international urban experts. The gathering underscored the municipality’s push toward participatory and experience-led urban planning.
Since its launch, the Lab has established a collaborative ecosystem involving 13 local and international partners across government, academia, and the private sector, supported by five global consultants. More than 80 participants have taken part in 35 innovation and ideation workshops, generating 45 design concepts focused on public spaces, walkways, facades, community areas, and mixed-use environments.
These efforts have laid the groundwork for 25 urban projects currently under development, including a large-scale co-design workshop that brought together 65 specialists from 30 entities. Project outputs were showcased by participating developers and students from the American University of Sharjah.
The event also featured dialogue sessions exploring Dubai’s urban heritage and future growth. Mohammed Ahmed Al Murr delivered a keynote on the historical significance of Dubai Creek, accompanied by rare archival images of Al Shindagha and the announcement of an upcoming publication titled Memories of Old Al Shindagha. Global urban design expert Adam Scott highlighted the role of human experience and emotion in shaping cities.
An Urban Hackathon held alongside the event examined the relationship between people and place in historic areas, aiming to inform future planning and policy through behavioural insights.
Dubai Municipality said the initiative reflects its broader commitment to knowledge-driven, people-centred city-building, reinforcing Dubai’s position as a leader in future-ready urban development.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
