Dubai has been named the world’s most resilient city by the United Nations. Dubai’s Crown Prince His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has praised the city’s enterprising spirit and its future-readiness. He said the city’s world-class projects and state-of-the-art infrastructure make it the world’s best place to work and live.

The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) has named Dubai as a ‘Role Model City’ under its MCR (Making Cities Resilient) campaign for being a smart, sustainable, and resilient city.

Sheikh Hamdan said the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, is the driving force that has transformed Dubai into a global role model in sustainable development.

“Today, we congratulate all our teams for winning the ‘Model City Award in Resilience, Intelligence and Sustainability’ presented by the United Nations Office for Risk and Disaster Reduction,” he tweeted.

“Despite the Covid-19 pandemic and its diverse impact, Dubai government combated and alleviated the pandemic’s effects and rapidly regain momentum in recovering with its technological innovation and rapid development,” the UNDRR said in a report.

“It has demonstrated astonishing commitment towards building resilient cities, investing in infrastructure, and providing the vital services in line with high-level standards,” said the report.

Resilient Dubai

Dubai ranks first globally for its resilience. “UNDRR’s recognition acknowledges Dubai’s adoption of best practices and innovative approaches in disaster risk reduction,” said the Dubai Media Office (DMO). The UNDRR recognised only Dubai from among the 56 cities it shortlisted.

The UNDRR’s assessment of Dubai focused on 10 essentials and 117 indicators for Making Cities Resilient. Dubai’s risk and disaster management teams work to constantly raise their preparedness, said the DMO. Equipped to deal with unforeseen crises, Dubai’s long-term strategies help it to manage all kinds of risks, it added.

“Dubai is showcasing consolidated efforts to achieve the objectives of the sustainable development goals and to preserve the safety and future of citizens and residents of Dubai while recuperating from Covid-19 and resuming its journey towards 2030,” said the UNDRR report.

Dubai 2040

In March this year, Dubai announced its 2040 Urban Master Plan, a comprehensive future map for the city’s sustainable urban development. Once completed, Dubai 2040 will make it the world’s best city to live in. The new plan aligns with the UAE’s vision for the next 50 years. It focuses on enhancing people’s happiness and quality of life.

The people-centric plan focuses on reinforcing Dubai’s competitiveness as a global city. It will add to the city’s diversity of lifestyle and investment opportunities over the next 20 years.