The Dubai Municipality (DM) has unveiled the impactful 100-day results of its pioneering Urban Think Tank and Design Lab, signaling its successful shift into a dynamic, citywide co-design platform focused on translating strategic visions into practical urban environments.
The transformation was marked by a high-profile event on December 15, 2025, bringing together senior government officials, cultural leaders, prominent real estate developers, academics, and international design experts. The gathering showcased how participatory planning and experimental design methodologies are rapidly shaping Dubai’s urban future, moving beyond traditional infrastructure development toward human-centered city-building.
Driving Innovation Through Co-Design
Launched to serve as a collaborative knowledge-to-application ecosystem, the Lab has quickly established itself as a nerve center for urban innovation. In its first 100 days, the platform forged partnerships with 13 local and international entities spanning government, academia, and the private sector, complemented by insights from five global consultants.
This collaborative approach has been highly productive. DM hosted 35 innovation and ideation workshops and engaged over 80 participants in co-design sessions, ultimately generating 45 distinct design concepts. These concepts address a diverse range of public spaces, including open areas, community zones, residential environments, walkways, and commercial facades. Crucially, the Lab has already laid the groundwork for 25 specific urban projects now officially under development.
The outcomes were highlighted by developers and students from the American University of Sharjah who exhibited their project contributions, underscoring the platform’s commitment to hands-on, educational engagement.
Bridging Urban Memory and Modern Experience
A core component of the announcement event was a series of dialogue sessions focused on Dubai’s cultural heritage and its future trajectory. Speakers explored how spatial memory informs contemporary planning, with His Excellency Mohammed Ahmed Al Murr, Chairman of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Library Foundation, delivering a keynote on the historical importance of Dubai Creek in shaping the city’s identity. The session included a presentation of rare historical photographs and the announcement of an upcoming publication, Memories of Old Al Shindagha.
Further reinforcing the human element, global urban design expert Adam Scott presented a lecture titled, “Reimagining Urban Life Through Experience-Driven Design.” Scott emphasized that successful city planning must focus on emotions, moments, and lived experiences, advocating for a human-centered approach above all else. Adding an international perspective, Bruno Moser from Foster + Partners weighed in on the value of behavioral data in crafting adaptable, high-quality urban environments.
The Urban Hackathon: A Tool for Data-Informed Policy
To directly engage stakeholders with this experience-led design philosophy, the municipality launched an Urban Hackathon during the event. Participants analyzed behaviors, emotions, and lived experiences within Dubai’s historic districts to generate new urban design principles.
This initiative aimed to do more than produce concepts; it sought to establish a “shared urban language” connecting government entities, developers, designers, and students. The Hackathon’s results will directly inform future DM planning operations and policy-making, ensuring that community insights drive implementable solutions.
His Excellency Marwan Ahmed bin Ghalita, Director General of Dubai Municipality, praised the initial results, stating that modern city-building requires “comprehensive urban models driven by knowledge, informed by future foresight, and designed around people and their quality of life.” He noted that the quick success of the Lab validates the municipality’s practical approach to participatory, data-informed planning that leverages partner expertise.
By translating initial ideas into tangible projects and strengthening cross-sector collaboration, the Urban Think Tank and Design Lab solidifies Dubai’s reputation as a competitive global leader in future-ready, people-centric urban development. The ongoing initiative promises to deliver higher-quality neighborhoods and more vibrant public spaces across the emirate.