Dubai is moving steadily toward becoming a 20-minute city, following the approval of the Roads and Transport Authority’s (RTA) ambitious urban mobility plan under the Dubai 10X Initiative, endorsed by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
First announced in 2023, the 20-minute city model aims to ensure that residents can access 80 percent of essential services and amenities within 20 minutes using walking, cycling, or sustainable transport. The initiative is designed to reduce reliance on private vehicles while enhancing convenience, connectivity, and quality of life.
One of the key objectives of the plan is improved road safety. As part of RTA’s Strategic Plan 2024–2030, the initiative promotes integrated and smart mobility solutions. Speaking at the launch of the strategy, Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA, highlighted the focus on soft mobility, connected transport systems, and self-driving technologies.
The project also includes the development of new mobility corridors, shaded green areas, and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure. Implementation has already begun in Al Barsha 2, while the wider Dubai Walk Master Plan envisions a 6,500-kilometre interconnected pedestrian network to be completed by 2040.
The plan includes the construction of 3,300 km of new walkways, upgrades to 2,300 km of existing paths, and the addition of 110 pedestrian bridges and underpasses, seamlessly connecting major landmarks such as Burj Khalifa, Dubai Marina, and DIFC.
Urban planning initiatives introduced earlier also aim to ensure that 50 percent of Dubai’s population lives within 800 metres of public transport, while significantly expanding land use for tourism and commercial activities by 2040.
