Dubai: Al Barsha 2 to lead 20-minute city concept with 17 km of walking, cycling paths

A model district in Al Barsha 2 area will be one of the earliest to embrace the 20-minute city concept in Dubai.

The Project's Model District will include 17km of pathways for walking and cycling that will enable residents easy access to the Mall of the Emirates, Al Quoz Creative Zone, the Hessa Street cycling track, and the walking and cycling tracks in Dubai Hills.

Al Barsha 2 will also be connected via these paths to various residential and tourist spots in Al Sufouh and Jumeirah Beach.

Mattar Al Tayer, who is also the director of Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), was giving updates on some of the major road corridors being developed to enhance traffic congestion in the emirate, which includes the 20 minute city concept.

As one of the major developments exposed to Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan, this was listed first in Dubai.

The concept of ‘20 minute city’ strives to build a unit where critical services such as education, healthcare, retail, recreation, places of worship and daycare centers are accessible in a 20-minute walk or bike ride, removing reliance on private vehicles.

This project helps achieve goals put forth in the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan. The scope of the project will improve the liveability of the area, increase the availability and access to green space, improve the walkability of the area, and enhance the sustainability of mobility.

A big focus in this strategy is improving walkability and access to the public transport system in conjunction with the Dubai Metro expansion that is set to be completed alongside the Dubai Loop and Rail Bus and their projected plans.

The project's goals include the construction of three more communtiy rest areas along with the existing stop planned for walkers and cyclists, the planting of over 590 trees, upgrading publicly available amenities like seating to smart shaded lounges, and the addition of two bike and e-scooter rental stations.

13.5 for cycling and e-scooter track

Currently in construction along Hessa Street, which connects Al Sufouh with Dubai Hills, there's a new 13.5 km long bicycle and e-scooter track. Its planned route will have two exclusive style bridges. One will sit on Sheikh Zayed Road and the another on Al Khail Road, each 5 meters in width will have 3 meters allocated for bicyclists and e-scooter riders and 2 meters for pedestrians.

This initiative is aimed primarily at further developing the softer mobility options available in Dubai and enhancing the overall quality of life of people living there. In doing so, the RTA is planning to furnish cycling tracks with names, assign specific identities to each route, and further strengthen relations with the private sectors.

The goal of these initiatives is to broaden the investment scope and services for cyclists, as well as promote the hosting of sporting and recreational activities along the tracks.

Dubai currently has an impressive 557 km of cycling tracks, and there are plans to expand construction to 100km in the upcoming years, as well as an additional 185km under construction. In the city, cycling is increasingly becoming one of the preferred methods of transport; this was confirmed in 2024 when 47 million cycling trips were recorded in the city.