Dubai launches Dh4bn plan to add 120 parks and 1.5 million trees
Dubai has unveiled a Dh4 billion ($1.08bn) “blue and green” programme to expand parks, trees, and waterfront access across the city. The roadmap, launched by Dubai Municipality and reviewed by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum during the World Governments Summit, aims to make public spaces core urban infrastructure rather than add-ons. Targets include 120 new parks, 1.5 million trees in five years, 45 landscaping projects, and 200 sports and recreation areas.
What Dubai will build—and where it moves the needle
The plan adds nearly three million square metres of new parkland, with green corridors linking neighbourhoods to beaches and waterfronts. Beaches, services, and amenities will scale up sharply, with capacity increases set out in the roadmap. The municipality frames this as a liveability push tied to the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan and the Public Parks and Greenery Strategy. In plain terms, parks and coasts become a connected network for daily life, not isolated sites.
Dubai green city project: headline targets at a glance
Over five years, the city will plant about 1.5 million trees and deliver more than 45 beautification and landscaping projects. It will also open 120 new parks and create 200 sports and recreational spaces. The programme’s value totals Dh4 billion, aligning funding with delivery milestones to 2030.
Focus on beaches and active travel
More than 15 coastal projects will refresh shorelines and add three new beach destinations per year. The roadmap foresees big percentage gains in beach capacity and amenities, plus much longer walking, jogging, and cycling routes along the water. The aim is simple: more access, more shade, and more movement.
Umm Suqeim Beach upgrade sets the tone
A Dh500 million master plan will expand Umm Suqeim Beach by roughly 30%, add a 38-metre observation tower, and build a 2 km retaining wall to boost resilience against sea-level rise. The 3.1 km project also includes mobility hubs and community facilities. Authorities expect the site to become a signature public shoreline for residents and visitors.
Built on earlier coastline commitments
The beach push continues a 2023 directive to develop 54 km of public beaches around Palm Jebel Ali, Palm Jumeirah, and Al Mamzar, including new public stretches at Jebel Ali. Those plans outlined walkways, enclosed swimming areas, and family amenities. Today’s roadmap layers trees, parks, and active-travel links onto that base.
Why it matters for residents and the economy
Greener districts lower heat stress, improve air quality, and encourage walking and cycling. Connected parks and waterfronts raise neighbourhood value and attract tourism. The city also positions its coasts to handle growth and climate risks with stronger, more accessible public realms. Officials call the roadmap a long-term urban model that puts people and nature in balance.
The Dh4 billion programme signals a shift from standalone beautification to city-scale green infrastructure. With 120 parks, 1.5 million trees, and broader beach access on the way, Dubai ties liveability goals to clear, funded delivery through 2030.
