Dubai is taking a significant step towards becoming a ’20-minute city’ with the endorsement of the updated Strategic Plan 2024-2030 by the Higher Committee for Strategic Planning and Corporate Transformation at Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). Chaired by Mattar Al Tayer, the Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA, the plan aims to transform Dubai into a city where 80% of daily services are within a 20-minute journey by foot or bicycle.
The Strategic Plan focuses on five key goals: enhancing integrated and innovative mobility, improving accessibility, integrating multi-modal transport, expanding mobility services, and developing smart mobility solutions. This initiative aligns with the Dubai Urban Plan 2040, Dubai Plan 2030, and the UAE Government Vision “We the UAE 2031”, with the overarching goal of making Dubai the world’s best city for living.
Al Tayer emphasized the plan’s alignment with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, focusing on strategic projects to enhance the economy, wellbeing, and happiness of residents and visitors. The plan encompasses global and future transport trends and positions RTA as a global leader in innovative services.
A highlight of the plan includes the introduction of self-driving Chevrolet Bolt autonomous electric vehicles, making Dubai the first city outside the USA to operate American Cruise self-driving vehicles. The Future Proof Organisation Goal underlines the importance of talent development, effective partnerships, R&D, and transitioning to a data-based entity with a flexible technological infrastructure.
In 2023, designated as the Year of Sustainability, and in anticipation of the UAE hosting COP28, the plan emphasizes sustainability, notably through the ‘Zero-Emissions Public Transportation in Dubai 2050’ strategy. This pioneering strategy aims for a complete transition of taxis, limousines, and public transport buses to electric and hydrogen vehicles by 2040 and 2050, respectively.
Furthermore, the plan addresses Health, Safety, and Security by promoting transportation safety and occupational health. It also focuses on Customer Happiness, with initiatives to understand and respond to customer needs, offering tailored and innovative services to optimize the benefits of transportation networks.
