As part of the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, Dubai Municipality has unveiled an ambitious environmental strategy to plant 3.5 million trees and expand the city’s green and landscaped spaces to 187 square kilometres
DUBAI: Dubai has announced ambitious plans to plant approximately 3.5 million trees and expand its green spaces to 187 square kilometres by 2040, reinforcing its commitment to sustainable urban development and improving residents’ quality of life.
The targets were announced by Marwan bin Ghalita, Director General of Dubai Municipality, during the Mohammed bin Rashid Leadership Forum at Dubai World Trade Centre on October 13.
The announcement forms part of Dubai’s broader strategy to develop smarter infrastructure, greener neighbourhoods and more sustainable public spaces.
Dubai plans 187 square kilometres of green spaces
Under the ambitious programme, Dubai aims to increase green space availability to 11 square metres per resident by 2040.
The municipality also expects parks and recreational facilities to attract approximately 95 million visits annually.
The initiative will expand landscaped areas, public parks and recreational destinations across residential communities, providing more opportunities for outdoor activities and healthier lifestyles.
New parks and recreational spaces across Dubai
The initiative supports Dubai’s Blue and Green Spaces Roadmap 2030, which includes planting 1.5 million trees over five years.
The roadmap also proposes developing 120 new parks, more than 45 landscaping projects and 200 sports and recreational facilities.
These developments aim to connect communities through accessible green corridors, pedestrian pathways and improved outdoor infrastructure.
Smart technology to support Dubai’s green future
Dubai Municipality is also expanding its use of artificial intelligence, digital twin technology and data-driven city management.
These technologies will support urban planning, infrastructure management and environmental sustainability.
The municipality previously planted 216,500 trees in 2024, averaging approximately 600 trees daily.
Its landscaping projects also expanded green spaces by 391.5 hectares during the same year.
Dubai’s long-term strategy seeks to balance rapid urban development with environmental protection, making the emirate greener and more liveable by 2040.
