Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum inspects the plan for Al Barsha 2 in Dubai. RTA

Al Barsha 2 is set to become one of the first neighborhoods in Dubai to implement the city’s ambitious 20-minute city vision, with a Model District Project featuring 17km of walking and cycling paths. The new paths will provide seamless, eco-friendly connections between Al Barsha 2 and key locations such as the Mall of the Emirates, Al Quoz Creative Zone, Dubai Hills, and Al Sufouh. The initiative is part of the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, aiming to ensure that residents can access essential services — such as schools, healthcare, retail, and recreational spaces — within a 20-minute walk or bike ride, eliminating the reliance on private vehicles. Presented to Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the project reflects Dubai’s push toward sustainable urban living. Mattar Al Tayer, Director General of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), shared updates on the development. The district will also introduce three community rest areas, smart, shaded seating, two rental stations for e-scooters and bicycles and more than 590 trees to enhance green areas. A 13.5-km cycling and e-scooter track is currently under construction along Hessa Street, linking Al Sufouh to Dubai Hills. It will feature two architecturally striking bridges — one crossing Sheikh Zayed Road and the other Al Khail Road. Dubai already has 557km of dedicated cycling tracks, with another 100km in development and 185km in the pipeline. In 2024 alone, Dubai recorded 47 million cycling trips, highlighting the popularity of alternative transport. This project also aligns with other future-forward infrastructure projects such as the Dubai Metro expansion, the Dubai Loop, and the Rail Bus. ICA/Expat Media
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