Dubai to be the World’s Most Innovative City in the Next 10 Years
The world’s tallest building, tallest hotel, largest water fountain and soon, the tallest Ferris wheel – Dubai has many jewels in its crown. And now, the cosmopolitan city sets its sight on becoming one of the most innovative, futuristic cities in the world within the next 10 years. As per the Dubai Innovation Index Report, the city ranked 14th amongst 30 global cities, outperforming Berlin, Madrid and Shanghai. Dubai’s innovation score also increased by 3% this year and 6% between 2015 and 2016. Central to this futuristic city-wide ambition is the Dubai 10X initiative, that aims to turn the city into the “world’s biggest lab” fostering a spirit of technology and innovation in Dubai to position its major government entities 10 years ahead of the rest of the world and propel the Emirate into the future.
We round up some of the most exciting initiatives that are sure to make the future of this innovative city look a lot different than today. Here’s what you can expect to see around town in the next 10 years…
State-of-the-art Technology for Added Security
With its exponentially increasing population, various innovations in Dubai are focused on making the city safer and more secure. Dubai Police proposed its trailblazing ‘Police without Policemen’ project in the Dubai 10X initiative that is a sustainable technology to keep neighbourhoods safe without putting a strain on the government entity’s resources. The idea is to police homes, communities and neighbourhoods without needing actual policemen to patrol the area. And given the rate at which commercial and residential properties in Dubai are coming up, this makes the city’s vision to be a safe and secure environment for those living in and visiting Dubai all the more pertinent.
What’s Involved?
- Smart Dog: A wi-fi enabled, 360-degree view CCTV camera which can transmit images directly to the house owner or to the police operations room.
- The launch of an airborne surveillance blimp that oversees open spaces and projects under construction.
- ‘Station in Patrol’ replacing the need to actually build traditional police stations.
Keen Focus on Sustainability
Dubai Water & Electricity Authority (DEWA) is set to establish the Digital DEWA project, the “world’s first automated, artificial-intelligence-powered renewable energy digital utility”. The ambitious project will change the way operational procedures for service providers, becoming the world’s first autonomous, renewable-energy utility offering AI-powered digital services.
To this end, the Digital DEWA project will have 4 main pillars:
- Dubai Solar pillar: A 24-hour, solar-powered utility that provides electricity and water. It is composed of three sub-initiatives: solar to electricity, solar to thermal, and solar to chemical.
- Energy Storage pillar: A multi-tech, large-scale integrated energy storage solution for residential- and utility-scale applications.
- Autonomous Services (Rammas/AI): Use of Artificial Intelligence across the whole value chain to enhance customer experience and improve productivity.
- Data Hub: A futuristic platform called MORO offering cutting-edge colocation, cloud computing and managed business services to advance the regions’ digital agenda.
Badia Farms: Region’s First Vertical Farm
Starting production in December 2017, Badia Farms is the first vertical farm in the region that is pioneering the ‘green revolution’ with cutting-edge technology and innovative agriculture methods. Employing the latest hydroponic technology within a controlled indoor environment, the farm produces pest-free leafy greens without needing sunlight, soil or chemicals. In line with the UAE Vision 2021 to work towards making the country more sustainable, Badia Farms uses 90% less water than traditional open-field farming and recycles the water it does use. Carbon footprint resulting from food imports is also drastically reduced. Badia Farms currently produces a range of lettuces, micro-greens, and baby-leaf herb varieties.
Planting indigenous species vertically saves space and helps the environment. Take a look at eco-friendly living walls and ways to make your home greener.
Blockchain-Enabled Platforms to Transform Dubai Government Sectors
In addition to applying high-tech, cutting-edge innovation methods to address security and sustainability in Dubai, there are numerous blockchain-driven initiatives that will change the way we…
buy Art
Dubai Art Bank proposed as Dubai Culture’s 10X initiative involves setting up a virtual blockchain-enabled, art-trading platform that supports cryptocurrency transactions. The idea to disrupt the traditional methods of buying and selling art and to digitize the process, creating more jobs in the arts sector and making artwork more accessible to the masses.
Interested in cryptocurrency? Take a look at our survey results for cryptocurrency in real estate transactions.
buy Vehicles
RTA’s Dubai Vehicle Chain, to be launched in 2020, is a vehicle lifecycle management system that will record the complete history of a vehicle from manufacturing to the scrap yard. This will provide buyers and sellers with a transparent record, allowing them to track where the vehicle is in its lifecycle and improve the vehicle ownership experience. Once completed, the Dubai Vehicle Chain will be the first government platform in the world to offer a reliable source of vehicle history information.
acquire Digital Skills
Smart University proposed as the 10X initiative by Smart Dubai aims to narrow the digital skills gap in the market by providing a blockchain-enabled learning platform for citizens and residents of Dubai to not only build their skillset, but also have it recognized with a verified diploma. The aim is to use technology to increase the supply of digitally-skilled talent and support the move towards innovation and making Dubai a ‘Smart City’.
What makes these initiatives so promising is that they’re bound to affect the economy and lifestyle in one way or another. With all this and much more happening when it comes to innovation in Dubai, one can’t help but wonder how the future of Dubai will shape up. Guess we’ll just have to wait and watch.
Want to know more about innovation in Dubai? Check out more on what Dubai will look like in the future and while you’re here, take a look at how the UAE is leading the way in sustainable developments.
