Dubai to invest 8 USD Billion into Smart City infrastructure

Dubai government have created a roadmap that spreads 545 smart initiatives and services across eight government entities and two smart districts. The infrastructure of this roadmap alone is estimated to cost 8USD billion. According to the BNC Smart City report commissioned by The Big 5, the largest and most influential construction event in the region, the first wave isof initiatives are focused on connection and technological infrastructure; such as Smart Governance.

The second wave of initiatives and services will be geared towards Smart Living - providing monumental opportunities for investment in the construction sector. There are approximately 185 proposed projects in the transport sector holding an estimated value of USD 32bn. These include rail ventures, marine plans, and aviation projects. Josine Heijmans, Exhibition Portfolio Director for The Big 5, observes that awareness of a transforming city should be generated to those in the construction business should be made aware of their vital role towards building a smart city. “The Dubai Smart City plans are aiming to improve the mobility and access points in Dubai” she notes, “and they will continue to rely on the construction sector as they progress, revealing the important role the industry will play in building the near future of the Emirate.” The BNC report further details that real estate projects address the environmental agenda of smart cities, for example the Desert Rose Housing Project which will see 20,000 plots using solar panels to produce 200 megawatts of electricity. In order to supply the peaking demand for sustainable building solutions, the organisers of The Big 5 are launching the co-located Big 5 Solar. Running from the 26 – 29 November at the Dubai World Trade Center, the two shows will showcase the innovative products and solutions that will take Smart Dubai to its 2021 deadline. The Big 5 product sectors include: MEP services, Building Interiors & Finishes, Building Envelope Special Construction, Construction Tools & Building Materials, and Construct ion Technology & Innovation. The Big 5 Solar features technologies from leading PV manufacturing countries and is set to become the premier event for solar industry professionals. The Global Solar Leaders’ Summit and the free to attend Solar Talks exploring the present and future of solar technologies in the region complement the exhibition’s offering. Last year’s edition of The Big 5 was the largest to date, attracting 78,579 participants from 142 countries, and 2,586 exhibiting companies from 59 countries. In 2017, the event introduces a new dedicated area for the HVAC-R sector, while returning features include the Live Product Demonstrations, and The Gaia Awards.