Dubai’s Green Spine: Transforming a 64-Kilometre Highway into a “Human-Centric” Oasis

Ile aux Benitiers, one of Mauritius’ most iconic islets, has long been a victim of its own success. The stunning lagoon, the famous “Crystal Rock,” and the panoramic views attracted thousands of daily visitors, resulting in seDubai is set for a massive urban overhaul. Architecture studio Urb is planning to convert the 64-kilometre-long Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Road (E311) arterial road into the “world’s greenest highway,” dubbed the Green Spine. Envisioned as the emirate’s answer to New York City’s iconic High Line, the project aims to redefine the urban landscape by prioritizing people and green spaces over cars.

A Greener, More Liveable City

The Green Spine proposal involves replacing the major road with over a million trees, pedestrianized walkways, and a solar-powered tram system. The ambitious goals of the plan include improving air quality, helping to cool the city, and boosting the accessibility of Dubai’s urban environment. Urb CEO Baharash Bagherian stated: “The Dubai Green Spine isn’t just about transit; it’s about transforming urban functionality, making the city more liveable and human-centric.”

The 64-kilometre landscape will incorporate cycle routes and elevated and ground-level parks, aligning with the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan goal of transforming the emirate into a 20-minute city, where residents can access key amenities within a 20-minute walk from home.

Sustainable Energy and Community Focus

A key element of the project is the development of a solar-powered tram system, fueled by a large solar panel farm built as part of the initiative. This farm is also designed to power 130,000 homes in Dubai.

Along the 64-kilometre stretch, several buildings will be created to house a mix of commercial, cultural, recreational, and educational facilities. These will include playgrounds, allotments, and sports facilities, encouraging interaction among local communities.

“Adopting a more human-centric approach means prioritizing people and green spaces over cars… The Dubai Green Spine is at the forefront of this shift, transforming Urban spaces into vibrant, healthy environments that serve as the city’s lungs and arteries,” concluded Bagherian.

The plan is part of the Dubai 2040 masterplan, focused on improving the quality of life for citizens in anticipation of the city’s projected population growth to nearly eight million in the next two decades.

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