Sheikh Hamdan approves Dh18 billion projects to shape Dubai’s next era
New initiatives strengthen trade, mobility, talent and investment opportunities
DUBAI – 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, has approved a series of major strategies and projects with a combined budget of Dh18 billion aimed at enhancing quality of life and shaping Dubai’s future.
The newly approved initiatives cover multiple sectors, including culture, trade, infrastructure, Emiratisation, finance, investment, urban planning and population monitoring. The projects form part of Dubai’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its global competitiveness, improve services and create new opportunities for residents, businesses and investors.
Chairing a meeting of The Executive Council at Emirates Towers, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan highlighted Dubai’s approach of combining long-term planning with continuous development.
“Dubai, which has become synonymous with ambition and achievement, backs its words with action and continues to write new chapters of success. Under the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, we are building a city that does not pause. We plan for the future while delivering for the present, ensuring that every step forward is anchored in progress and purpose,” he said.
Projects approved by The Executive Council:
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- Dubai Cultural Strategy
- Dubai Customs Strategy
- First Al Khail Street Development Plan
- ‘Dubai Population Now’ Real-Time Population Census and Growth Monitoring Initiative
- Emirati Talents Strategy in Private Education
- Dubai… pic.twitter.com/665ARlV3cK
He added that the Dubai Cultural Strategy 2033, led by Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, will support the Dubai Plan 2033 and Dubai Social Agenda 33 by establishing Dubai as a global cultural reference built on heritage, innovation and talent.
“Just as we nurture the cultural landscape, we consolidate our mission across every dimension of the city, including the way we plan our urban areas, harness data for policymaking, empower our people, attract investment, and support new sectors,” Sheikh Hamdan said.
The meeting was attended by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai.
Dubai Cultural Strategy 2033
The Executive Council approved the Dubai Cultural Strategy 2033, supervised by Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, which aims to position Dubai as a global leader in cultural innovation and collaboration while preserving the UAE’s heritage.
The strategy supports the Dubai Plan 2033 and Dubai Social Agenda 33 and is built on four key pillars, including 40 initiatives supported by five sectoral indicators and 23 key performance indicators.
Major programmes under the strategy include the Dubai Cultural and Creative Innovation Programme, the UAE Heritage Design Challenge and the Future Talents Development Programme.
The strategy aims to support more than 6,000 local talents, attract over 6,000 international creatives, increase Dubai’s cultural asset footprint by more than 200 percent, raise the sector’s GDP contribution to 5.4 percent and increase the value of public-private partnerships in the sector to Dh2.75 billion.
Dubai Customs Strategy 2030
The Executive Council approved the Dubai Customs Strategy 2030, which focuses on strengthening trade facilitation, improving economic partnerships and enhancing security and compliance.
The strategy aims to provide smoother trade operations, improve customer and partner experiences, support Dubai’s global competitiveness and reinforce the emirate’s position as a leading international trade hub.
The initiative focuses on developing customs services while ensuring efficient movement of goods and strengthening Dubai’s role in global commerce.
First Al Khail Street Development Plan
The First Al Khail Street Development Plan was approved as a major infrastructure project designed to introduce a strategic transport corridor parallel to Sheikh Zayed Road.
The project will feature a 15-kilometre elevated carriageway with three lanes in each direction. Construction is expected to begin in Q3 2027 and conclude in Q4 2030.
The development will use advanced technologies and modern construction methods to speed up delivery while ensuring minimal impact on existing traffic movement.
Once completed, the corridor will serve around 2.6 million people and provide improved access to Al Barsha, Al Quoz, Business Bay and Meydan.
The project is expected to reduce travel time on Sheikh Zayed Road by 51 per cent during peak hours, improve road network efficiency and increase capacity by approximately 9,000 vehicles per hour.
Dubai Population Now
The Executive Council approved the Real-Time Population Census and Growth Monitoring Initiative, known as ‘Dubai Population Now’, led by the Dubai Data and Statistics Establishment, part of the Dubai Digital Authority.
The initiative will use artificial intelligence and smart forecasting tools to provide a real-time population clock and support future urban planning.
Dubai’s population reached 4.58 million by the end of 2025, increasing by 332,000 people, or 7.5 percent, compared with 2024.
The initiative will provide updated population data to support decision-making in key sectors, including housing, education, healthcare and transport.
Emirati Talents Strategy
The Executive Council approved the Emirati Talents Strategy in Private Education, aimed at increasing Emiratisation within the education sector and supporting the Dubai Education Strategy 2033.
The strategy targets the employment of 3,000 Emiratis in private education by 2033, with key indicators focusing on the proportion of Emiratis in teaching roles and employee turnover rates.
The strategy includes several initiatives, including the Teacher Qualification and Accreditation Academy, known as Bridge to Teach, the Success Partners Programme, Flex Emiratisation, the Teaching Experience initiative (TeachXperience), and pathways for employing retirees.
Dubai Investor Register
The Dubai Investor Register was approved as a unified platform for institutions and individuals operating or investing in Dubai.
The register supports the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, which aims to achieve Dh650 billion in foreign direct investment by 2033.
The platform will allow companies and investors to operate across multiple zones without repeated registration procedures.
It will also support Financial Action Task Force requirements while reducing operational costs by streamlining processes and creating a unified data system.
Dubai Address System Identity
The Executive Council approved a new visual identity for Dubai’s address system, introducing a distinctive design approach inspired by the emirate’s environment.
The updated system will classify address signage according to urban sectors, strengthening the identity of different areas and improving navigation across the city.
The initiative will expand to cover transport and residential services and is scheduled for implementation across 186 areas by 2029.
The project aims to improve geographic orientation while aligning Dubai’s addressing framework with international best practices.
Global Centre for Technology and Innovation in Islamic Finance
The Executive Council approved the launch of the Global Centre for Technology and Innovation in Islamic Finance, managed by Dubai International Financial Centre with global partners.
The centre will support Dubai’s position as a leading hub for Islamic fintech, with the sector’s market projected to reach $9.31 trillion by 2030.
Key initiatives include the Islamic Finance Innovation Challenge, which will provide an innovation platform for Islamic banks and start-ups, and the Future Islamic Finance Forum scheduled for 4 November 2026.
The DIFC Academy will deliver a talent development programme aimed at training more than 3,000 participants by 2031.