Dubai Municipality has showcased the achievements from the first 100 days of its Urban Think Tank and Design Lab, an initiative designed to transform strategic visions for the city into applied, experimental urban projects. The milestone was marked at a dedicated event attended by senior government officials, private-sector leaders, and international experts, underscoring a city-wide commitment to collaborative, human-centric development.
A Collaborative Ecosystem Takes Shape
Since its launch, the Urban Think Tank and Design Lab has successfully cultivated an ecosystem of 13 local and international partners from government, academia, and the private sector. The initiative is further supported by insights from five global consultants and experts.
The announcement event brought together influential figures including Abdulla Mohammed Al Basti, Secretary General of The Executive Council of Dubai, and leadership from Dubai Culture and Arts Authority. Prominent real estate developers were also in attendance, including representatives from Emaar Properties, Binghatti Holding, and Sobha Realty, signalling strong private-sector buy-in for the lab’s vision.
Tangible Outcomes in 100 Days
In its initial phase, the Lab has already demonstrated significant momentum. It engaged over 80 participants in co-design activities and conducted 35 innovation and ideation workshops. These collaborative sessions have produced 45 distinct design concepts for public spaces, walkways, building façades, community areas, and residential and commercial environments.
Furthermore, the Lab has laid the groundwork for 25 ongoing urban projects, including a large-scale co-design workshop that involved 65 specialists from 30 different entities. The work highlights a practical approach to rapidly testing and implementing new ideas for urban improvement.
Launching the Urban Hackathon
A key highlight of the event was the launch of an Urban Hackathon, cementing the municipality’s shift toward participatory and experience-led urban planning. The hackathon focuses on applying behavioral and emotional analysis to planning in historic districts, using data to create more intuitive and engaging urban spaces.
The session featured global insights from Foster + Partners, represented by Bruno Moser, who emphasised the role of behavioral data in creating adaptive and high-quality urban environments. The hackathon’s findings are expected to establish a unified design language that connects students, designers, developers, and government entities, shaping future planning and policymaking in Dubai.
A Vision for a Human-Centric Dubai
Commenting on the initiative’s progress, Marwan Ahmed bin Ghalita, Director-General of Dubai Municipality, highlighted the evolving nature of city development. “City-building today is no longer limited to infrastructure; it requires urban models driven by knowledge and designed around people’s quality of life,” he stated. “The Lab’s outcomes and the launch of the Urban Hackathon embody Dubai’s practical approach to participatory, data-informed planning.”
He added, “Within just one hundred days, the Urban Think Tank and Design Lab has demonstrated its capacity to transform ideas into projects and partnerships into tangible outcomes, enhancing neighbourhood quality, public spaces, and Dubai’s global competitiveness.”
About The Urban Think Tank and Design Lab
The Urban Think Tank and Design Lab is an initiative by Dubai Municipality created as a collaborative platform to translate strategic visions into applied and experimental urban projects. It brings together partners from government, academia, and the private sector to co-design and innovate solutions for public spaces, community areas, and commercial environments, reinforcing Dubai’s position as a global leader in future-ready urban development.
Source: Fast Company Middle East
