Dubai Plans New Development Zones Amid Rapid Population Growth

Dubai's population has expanded dramatically from 40,000 in 1960 to 4.8 million today, with the daytime population reaching approximately 6.5 million due to the influx of commuters, tourists, and workers, according to Muna Al Osaimi, CEO of the Strategic and Corporate Governance Sector at the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).

This rapid increase has resulted in an annual growth rate of about 70 percent in recent years, far exceeding the global average of 1 to 2 percent. The city's physical area has also grown significantly, from 3.2 square kilometers in 1960 to 1,500 square kilometers currently.

Addressing attendees at the Rise summit held at the Dubai World Trade Center, Al Osaimi emphasized the need to accommodate current transportation demands while planning for future growth. She noted that over the past two decades, the RTA has expanded Dubai's road network to more than 25,000 lane kilometers, tripling its size.

The summit gathered more than 600 global investment professionals to discuss Dubai's ongoing investments and development strategies across various market cycles.

Additionally, Al Osaimi highlighted improvements in public transportation, stating that the share of public transit usage has risen to 22 percent, with Metro ridership exceeding 730,000 passengers daily. The upcoming Blue Line of the Metro is scheduled to open in 2029, further enhancing the city's transport infrastructure.