Dh200,000 prize pool announced as Dubai launches world’s first AI-powered park design challenge
Global innovators invited to create sustainable, people-focused urban concepts
DUBAI – Under the directives of 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, Dubai Municipality has launched the world’s first AI-powered park design challenge.
The initiative invites designers, urban planners, researchers, students, startups and artificial intelligence innovators to reimagine Al Safa 2 Park through advanced technology. The challenge reflects Dubai’s continued focus on using innovation, sustainability and community-led ideas to develop future-ready public spaces that improve quality of life.
The initiative aims to explore how artificial intelligence can support the complete journey of park design, from analysing locations and understanding user needs to generating concepts, testing scenarios, improving designs and creating visual representations. While AI will play a central role in the process, Dubai Municipality has emphasised that final design decisions will remain guided by human creativity and experience.
The challenge seeks visionary yet practical concepts that enhance sustainability, accessibility, wellbeing, social interaction and the overall experience of visitors. Participants will be required to submit integrated master plans supported by data analysis, detailed drawings, visualisations and an explanation of how AI tools contributed to their design approach.
AI-powered park design challenge
Eng. Marwan Ahmed bin Ghalita, Director General of Dubai Municipality, said the launch represents Dubai’s ambition to lead the future of urban innovation by combining advanced technologies with human-centred design.
“The launch of the world’s first AI-powered park design challenge reflects Dubai’s ambition to lead the future of urban innovation by combining advanced technologies with human-centred design. Under the leadership’s vision, Dubai Municipality continues to develop transformative initiatives that enhance quality of life, strengthen community participation and reimagine public spaces as integrated destinations designed around people and their daily needs,” he said.
As part of Dubai’s vision to strengthen its global leadership in harnessing artificial intelligence to shape the cities of the future, H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, and Chairman of The… pic.twitter.com/5Ogb4M8qcQ
— بلدية دبي | Dubai Municipality (@DMunicipality) June 28, 2026
Bin Ghalita added that artificial intelligence in the challenge is being used to expand possibilities, provide deeper insights and support better design decisions rather than replace human creativity.
The competition is open to professionals in urban planning, architecture, landscape architecture and public space design, alongside undergraduate students, master’s and PhD candidates, researchers, startups, AI specialists and technology innovators.
Participants will demonstrate how AI tools have been integrated into their design processes, including areas such as spatial planning, environmental response, shade and microclimate optimisation, user experience analysis, performance improvement, data-based decision-making and AI-assisted visualisation.
Design goals
Bader Anwahi, CEO of the Public Facilities Agency at Dubai Municipality, highlighted the role of parks in supporting community wellbeing, social connection and daily experiences.
He said the challenge introduces a new approach to public space design, where AI can provide deeper insights into people, locations, climate conditions and patterns of use while ensuring the final designs remain practical, inclusive and focused on human experience.
Al Safa 2 Park will serve as a testing ground for exploring how AI can contribute to more responsive, comfortable and sustainable public spaces. The goal is to create a park that caters to different ages and abilities while reflecting Dubai’s identity as a city driven by innovation.
Submissions will be evaluated based on several criteria, including the effectiveness of the AI-integrated design process, spatial intelligence, feasibility, human-centred experience, inclusivity, sustainability, clarity of concept and the ability to transform data analysis into practical outcomes.
Prize details
The challenge offers a total prize pool of Dh200,000 for outstanding concepts. The first-place winner will receive Dh100,000, while the second-place winner will be awarded Dh65,000 and the third-place winner will receive Dh35,000.
A judging panel featuring government leaders and local and international experts in design, architecture, artificial intelligence and future city planning will assess the entries. The panel will shortlist selected proposals before the community is invited to participate in choosing the winning designs.
The public voting element highlights Dubai Municipality’s approach to involving residents in shaping the future of parks and ensuring that new public spaces reflect community needs and aspirations.
How to apply
Through the global challenge, Dubai Municipality aims to establish a new model for creating public spaces by integrating artificial intelligence, creativity, sustainability, local identity and participatory design.
Applications are open until 15 August 2026, with creatives and specialists invited to submit their ideas through the official challenge platform.