The Emirate of Dubai and investment firm Dubai Holding have signed a memorandum of understanding to build a 1.4 million square metre public park in the city.
Located in DubaiLand, a $64bn development currently under construction, the park will "provide a vibrant, natural environment, encouraging individuals to lead a healthy and active lifestyle". Local newspaper The National wrote in 2015 that the obesity rate in the UAE is double the world average.
When finished, the park will contain 30km of pedestrian pathways, a 20km jogging track, 14km of cycling tracks and over 7km of nature trails. The space will also include 55 playgrounds for children, 45 sports grounds, five major events arenas and shops, restaurants and cafes.
It will be home to up to 15,000 types of native and adopted species of plant.
The park will "host innovation and smart-solutions, including sustainable onsite power generation, waste recycling and natural shading" and have "smart cards for ticketing, purchasing and wi-fi connectivity".Â
When completed, it will increase public space in Dubai by 17% and reduce water consumption by 5 litres per square metre. Dubai has set the goal of offering 12.5 square metres of green space per person.
Dubai Holding will develop and operate the park and other facilities such as the playground, as well as providing administrative support associated with the park’s operations.
Ahmad Bin Byat, managing director of the company, said: "In addition to enhancing the natural landscape and attracting tourists, every major city, including New York, London and Singapore, has an iconic park that reflects its cultural and social identity.
"The development of this park aims to show off Dubai’s remarkable landscape and position it among the most prominent global cities."
When finished the park will be the second largest in the world after Chugach State Park in Alaska, which measures 2 million square metres.
Images courtesy of the government of Dubai
