Dubai 2050 and its Race to be the World's Most Sustainability City

You don't often hear the words "Dubai" and "sustainability" uttered in the breath. In fact, because of its large quantity of private jets, limited public transportation, inefficient buildings, and artificial islands, The World Wildlife Fund ranked Dubai as having the largest ecological footprint. Though Dubai has been completely reimagined after the discovery of oil in the 1970s, it is committed to reinventing itself once again - this time to be the world's most sustainable city.

One key component of Dubai's sustainability plan is increasing the use of renewable energy. The city has already begun operating a 5 GW solar park, with the goal of generating 50% of its energy from solar sources by 2030. All buildings in Dubai will also be required to have solar panels on their roofs by 2030.

In addition to renewable energy, Dubai is also focusing on improving its public transportation system. The city's metro system is the second longest driverless metro network in the world, with a route length of 47 miles and over 151 million riders in 2021. Dubai has also developed a fully functional Sustainable City, which is powered entirely by solar energy and minimizes water and energy use. The $354 million project was completed in 2020 and is home to 2,700 residents.

Overall, Dubai is taking a holistic approach to sustainability, with a focus on renewable energy, efficient transportation, and low-impact building design.

A field of solar photovoltaic panels that form part of the Mohammed bin Rashid Solar Park in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on 17 January 2018.