A Dubai-based company has proposed a visionary tramway project, titled the “Dubai Green Spine,” along the bustling Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Road (E311). The plan, introduced by URB, involves a 64km tram line enhanced with urban greenery, including 1 million trees and multiple urban farms.
Baharash Bagherian, CEO of URB, revealed that the ambitious project, which is still at the conceptual stage, aims to transform the urban landscape of Dubai. “The Dubai Green Spine is designed to prioritize green spaces and sustainable transport options over the conventional vehicular-centric infrastructure,” Bagherian explained in a Khaleej Times report. He emphasized that no formal proposals have been presented to authorities as of yet.
The tramway would be entirely powered by a 300-megawatt solar energy system, with the solar panels integrated into the tram tracks themselves. “This method not only secures a continuous power supply but also preserves the aesthetic value of the corridor by eliminating the need for overhead power lines,” Bagherian stated.
The project, with an estimated cost of $10 billion, plans to feature 25 tram stations and could be completed in four phases over a decade. It is designed to support about 130,000 homes with its power output.
Additional features of the Green Spine include pedestrian pathways and cycling tracks lined with native plants, vertical farms, community gardens, and sustainable urban drainage systems to prevent flooding. Elevated parks within the corridor are expected to host playgrounds, outdoor fitness zones, and sports facilities.
URB is known for its innovative environmental projects like the ‘Dubai Mangroves,’ which aims to plant over 100 million mangrove trees, and ‘The Loop,’ a climate-controlled cycling highway encircling Dubai. Like these projects, the Green Spine remains in the research and development phase.
