Dubai: Dubai Municipality has completed more than 107 projects with a combined value of AED 1.6 billion in 2026, marking a significant milestone in the continued development of Dubai’s public spaces and community facilities.Delivered through its Public Facilities Agency, the projects reflect the Municipality’s commitment to expanding the city’s public destinations and enhancing everyday experiences for residents and visitors.The projects form part of an integrated development programme spanning public parks, beaches, neighbourhood beautification, landscaping and community facilities. Beyond its own public destinations, the Agency has also contributed to the development of essential facilities for other government entities, supporting the provision of educational, social and community infrastructure and demonstrating its wider contribution to Dubai’s development and the delivery of essential community services.The scale of delivery reflects the Public Facilities Agency’s expanding role in shaping Dubai’s urban environment, combining infrastructure development with a broader focus on the quality, accessibility and long-term performance of public facilities. The Agency is advancing an approach that connects planning, design, construction and operations, ensuring that public investment continues to generate value throughout the lifecycle of each facility.Expanding Dubai’s network of public destinationsA significant proportion of the completed projects focused on developing new community destinations and upgrading existing public spaces to meet Dubai’s evolving urban and population needs.The 2026 portfolio includes developments across some of Dubai’s prominent public destinations, including Al Mamzar Beaches, schools, social neighbourhood Majlis, Hewi Dubai in Nad Al Sheba, new neighbourhood parks and development projects in Dubai’s countryside and rural areas, alongside citywide landscaping, beautification and agricultural development initiatives.Reflecting Dubai Municipality’s commitment to enhancing the city’s public realm, 36% of total project investment was allocated to public beach developments, while 22% was allocated to city beautification, landscaping and agriculture projects. Together, these investments contribute to creating more attractive, greener and people-centred public spaces that enhance everyday quality of life.Through these projects, Dubai Municipality is expanding access to recreational and community spaces, enhancing the quality of the urban environment and creating more opportunities for outdoor activity and social interaction.The Agency’s development approach draws on community feedback, visitor insights and operational data to inform the design and improvement of public facilities. This enables the Municipality to respond more effectively to changing community needs and develop destinations that serve different age groups and patterns of use.Bader Anwahi, CEO of the Public Facilities Agency at Dubai MunicipalityBader Anwahi, CEO of the Public Facilities Agency at Dubai Municipality, said: “The value of public infrastructure is measured by what we build, as well as by how it improves people’s everyday lives and contributes to the city’s long-term development. At the Public Facilities Agency, we are advancing an approach that considers the entire journey of a public space, from understanding community needs and planning its development to ensuring that it continues to serve people efficiently and sustainably over time.”He added: “Our priority is to translate Dubai’s development ambitions into public spaces and facilities that make a tangible difference to the city. The completion of more than 107 projects worth AED 1.6 billion demonstrates the scale of this undertaking and our continued commitment to accelerating delivery while strengthening quality and operational performance. We are also expanding our contribution beyond parks and recreational destinations by supporting government entities in delivering essential infrastructure that responds to the needs of Dubai’s growing communities.”Creating new opportunities for investment and enterpriseAlongside its infrastructure achievements, the Public Facilities Agency has contributed to creating more than 100 investment opportunities across Dubai’s public facilities, including dedicated opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises.These opportunities are intended to encourage greater private-sector participation in the development and activation of public destinations, introducing commercial and service offerings that complement their recreational and community functions.By integrating investment opportunities into public facilities, the Agency is supporting the development of destinations that offer a wider range of experiences, while creating opportunities for businesses and entrepreneurs to participate in Dubai’s growth.Anwahi added: “We see considerable potential for public facilities to contribute more broadly to Dubai’s economy. By creating opportunities for businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, we are extending the value of these destinations beyond their traditional functions. Our approach is to encourage investment that complements the character and purpose of each space, enhances the experience of its users and creates lasting opportunities for economic participation. This is an important part of how we are shaping the next generation of Dubai’s public destinations.”Strengthening delivery and long-term performanceThe Agency’s achievements have also been supported by continued improvements in project planning, implementation and operational management. These include the adoption of innovative construction solutions, more efficient delivery processes and data-informed approaches to managing public facilities.The objective is to strengthen coordination across project stages, improve execution quality and ensure completed facilities can be operated and maintained efficiently over the long term.The Public Facilities Agency continues to strengthen the integration of development and operations, with greater consideration given to maintenance requirements, resource efficiency and visitor experience throughout the planning and design process.These efforts support the objectives of the Dubai Quality of Life Strategy 2033, Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan and Dubai Economic Agenda D33, reinforcing the role of public infrastructure in creating a more liveable city while supporting economic development and investment.Looking ahead, Dubai Municipality will continue to expand and enhance its public facilities portfolio, with the Public Facilities Agency advancing further projects and investment opportunities that respond to Dubai’s evolving needs.Through this continued programme of development, the Municipality aims to strengthen the quality and accessibility of Dubai’s public spaces and ensure that the city’s infrastructure continues to support its growth and the wellbeing of its communities.
