His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, approved a set of policies and strategic models focused on enhancing urban planning, housing, digitalisation, and Digital Resilience during a meeting of The Executive Council. The decisions were announced in alignment with Dubai’s ongoing development and transformation goals.

The initiatives support the Year of the Family announced by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE. They also align with Dubai Social Agenda 33 launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, under the slogan “Family: The Foundation of Our Nation.” The approved plans include a new residential planning model, the Digital Resilience Policy, and the general plan for The Executive Council’s 2026 Agenda.

The meeting at Emirates Towers was attended by His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of the UAE. It was reported that the new policies reflect Dubai’s drive to advance integrated development that prioritises people, strengthens social stability, and supports long-term sustainability.

Sheikh Hamdan said Dubai is moving forward with a future-focused development model that emphasises citizen welfare and family empowerment. He revealed that the new residential planning framework aims to create socially interconnected communities with integrated services, parks, schools, and neighbourhood facilities that enhance overall quality of life.

• The policies prioritise citizen welfare and family-focused development.
• The Digital Resilience Policy strengthens Dubai’s digital leadership.

Sheikh Hamdan highlighted the importance of strengthening digital resilience to support the Dubai Digital Strategy launched in 2023. He reported that Dubai already has one of the most advanced digital infrastructures in the world and continues to enhance its digital economy and services. The approved Digital Resilience Policy was described as a key tool for maintaining continuity and ensuring proactive digital leadership.

The Executive Council also approved the general plan for its 2026 Agenda. The agenda focuses on advancing the Dubai Plan 2033 priorities across economic and social sectors.

In line with the Year of the Family and Dubai Social Agenda 33, the Council revealed a new planning model for citizens’ residential areas. The model aims to promote sustainable living, support Dubai Urban Plan 2040, and strengthen the traditional Fareej concept to reinforce social cohesion.

The model introduces shaded walkways, active mobility paths, and park networks designed to encourage cycling, walking, and community interaction. It also emphasises creating lively neighbourhoods with cultural and social engagement spaces to enhance residents’ comfort and belonging.

The plans include 152 new parks across Madinat Latifa and Al Yalayis, with walking distances not exceeding 150 metres from any home. Over 33 kilometres of cycling paths will be added. Central parks, community majlis, and wedding halls will also be built to support social activities. The project will contribute to the 20-Minute City concept.

In Madinat Latifa, around 11% of the area will be allocated to green spaces, with 12 kilometres of interconnected walking and cycling routes. The plans include schools, early childhood centres, mosques, clinics, commercial hubs, and 18,500 residential units to serve 141,000 residents across 3,000 hectares.

In Al Yalayis, a green corridor linking residential areas will offer recreational and commercial facilities. The area will accommodate 66,000 residents across 1,108 hectares with 8,000 residential unit plots and 75 parks.

The Digital Resilience Policy was also approved to strengthen preparedness, response, recovery, and transformation across Dubai’s digital landscape. The policy aligns with the Dubai Resilience Strategy and the Digital Transformation Strategy, which aims to simplify lives and strengthen the digital economy using advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence.

The framework ensures continuity of digital services, protects vital digital assets, improves leadership dashboards, and enhances cooperation between public and private sectors. It also outlines governance rules, communication protocols, and key performance indicators for resilience initiatives.

Officials reported that the policy focuses on protecting critical assets such as data centres, networks, cloud platforms, and user devices. It aims to improve incident response and maintain public trust in Dubai’s digital systems.

The Executive Council reviewed achievements from the 2025 Agenda and approved the 2026 plan. The new agenda focuses on implementing Dubai Plan 2033 priorities across sectors including social development, infrastructure, economy and investment, entrepreneurship, safety, justice, and public services.

The decisions reflect Dubai’s ongoing commitment to advancing digital resilience, sustainable community development, and long-term strategic planning.

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