URB introduces concept for 93km-long urban highway in Dubai

URB the sustainable cities developer based out of Dubai, has revealed details about its new 93-kilometre-long urban highway – The Loop in Dubai.

Planned as a new 93-kilometre sustainable urban highway, the project will become the smartest cycling and running infrastructure anywhere in the world. It aims to connect more than three million residents, using a healthy mode of transport, to key services and locations by walking and cycling within minutes, URB said in a statement.

The project will provide an enjoyable climate-controlled, all-year-around environment, while making walking and cycling the primary mode of transport for Dubai’s residents, in line with the Emirate’s new 20-minute city initiative.

Unveiling the new concept, CEO Baharash Bagherian said: "The Loop provided a great opportunity to foster an entrepreneurial spirit in urban mobility and Dubai is the best place for it. This is the future of urban mobility infrastructures, which are more than sustainable transport systems."

He added that the project will also develop the smartest cycling and running infrastructure in the world, and that the target is to make cycling and walking the primary mode of transport for daily commutes for more than 80% of Dubai’s residents by 2040.

"These types of infrastructures are spaces and utilities for people, where various leisure and community services can also be provided. These types of infrastructures are an enjoyable mode of sustainable transport, no matter the weather conditions," he added.

Re-engineering Future Mobility

Bagherian highlighted that Dubai is primarily built for car travel, with its major road infrastructures and networks resulting in disconnected communities, with big gaps between cycling and public urban transport. The more these two services are integrated, the easier it will be for Dubai’s residents to combine them on their daily commutes over a long distance.

Safety and year-round useability are two of the critical issues, that need to be addressed, he added, pointing out that The Loop also provides solutions for them, while making urban mobility a ‘joyful experience’ for Dubai residents whilst also making them healthy.

“Our aim is to re-engineer the future mobility infrastructure in Dubai to become more than sustainable transport systems. To think of such infrastructures as much as spaces and utilities for people, where various leisure and community services can also be provided. These types of infrastructures should be an enjoyable mode of sustainable transport, no matter the weather conditions,” he concluded.