The Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, announced that a number of projects worth approximately 2.1 trillion dirhams are currently being implemented in Dubai. These projects cover strategic areas, including housing, transport, aviation, infrastructure, and economic development.
These statements were made during the Mohammed bin Rashid Leadership Forum, an annual event dedicated to governance and leadership. The event started at the Dubai World Trade Centre and gathered about 1000 leaders from the public and private sectors of Dubai, as well as experts, decision-makers, and academics.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, as well as Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, was also present at the forum. Other high-ranking attendees included Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Olympic Committee, Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, and Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Gharavi, Chairman of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Executive Office and Chairman of the Mohammed bin Rashid Leadership Development Centre (MBRCLD).
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum emphasized the concept of a 'city within a city,' noting that 2.1 trillion dirham projects are underway in Dubai today, with plans to announce more initiatives in the future. He stated that the pace of development is continuous and achievements are ongoing, calling the current period exceptional for growth and development, and an ideal time to invest in Dubai and its infrastructure. Dubai is preparing for a new phase of economic growth through major investments in housing, transport, and infrastructure.
He added that the infrastructure of the future is currently being built by expanding Dubai's capacity to accommodate population, business, and economic sector growth. The goal is to ensure Dubai's readiness for growth while maintaining the highest standards of living, working, and investing. Concluding his speech, he noted that progressive cities act ahead of others and strive to attract leaders capable of analyzing changing dynamics, making quick decisions, and turning ideas into tangible results for people.
Dubai's current project portfolio covers a wide range of industries: from housing, transport, and aviation to infrastructure, economic zones, and real estate. It also includes projects for water supply, electricity supply, sewage, and landscaping, all aimed at meeting the emirate's rapid growth and strengthening its potential for future expansion in the coming years.
This complex of projects includes flagship plans across various sectors, including 1.1 trillion dirhams allocated to real estate projects until 2030. In aviation, 128 billion dirhams have been allocated to Al Maktoum International Airport, the world's largest, designed to handle up to 260 million passengers annually over the next decade. Furthermore, 328 billion dirhams are designated for expanding the Emirates and flydubai fleets, and 18.7 billion dirhams for a new Emirates maintenance and engineering complex.
Planned projects also include over 100 billion dirhams for the development of Phase 2 of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), 100 billion dirhams for road modernization and the construction of the Blue and Gold Lines of the Dubai Metro. Ten billion dirhams have been allocated for the expansion of the Dubai Exhibition Centre, and 80 billion dirhams for Dubai's strategic sewage tunnel system. The 'Tasreef' rainwater drainage project will receive 30 billion dirhams, and 151 billion dirhams for new electricity and water supply infrastructure, along with 4 billion dirhams for the emirate's Green and Blue Spaces Roadmap.
In line with Dubai's urban and economic growth, the housing sector plans to provide approximately 350,000 residential units alongside the expansion of transport and infrastructure networks.
The Mohammed bin Rashid Leadership Forum embodies His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's vision for creating a world-class leadership ecosystem that shapes the future and creates opportunities. It is also an important step towards institutionalizing His Highness's philosophy of governance and leadership, translating it into an operational framework for implementation across all structures in Dubai. The forum aims to implement best practices in leadership and management, as well as to promote the exchange of ideas and knowledge by discussing experiences that contribute to institutional efficiency. It showcases some of Dubai's future initiatives and highlights its strategic direction and vision for development.
