Dubai to Open 35 New Parks with $94.7m Investment in 2026

Dubai, UAE: Dubai Municipality has announced plans to deliver 35 new public parks across the emirate in 2026, backed by an investment of $94.7 million (AED348 million), as part of its broader strategy to expand accessible green and recreational spaces.

The new parks will span more than 340,000 square metres and serve 23 residential communities, reinforcing Dubai’s focus on enhancing liveability through integrated, walkable urban environments.

Expanding green infrastructure across the city

The initiative forms part of Dubai Municipality’s Blue and Green Spaces Roadmap 2030, a long-term plan aimed at increasing the availability of parks, waterfront areas, and recreational facilities across the emirate.

The roadmap includes projects exceeding $1.09 billion (AED4 billion), with more than 120 parks and 200 sports and recreational facilities scheduled for delivery over the next five years.

Dubai Municipality confirmed that park locations have been selected based on planning standards that ensure residents can access them within a five-minute walk.

All parks will be open and unfenced, allowing seamless integration with surrounding neighbourhoods. Designs will incorporate climate-responsive features and resilient infrastructure to support year-round use.

The municipality is also planning curated programmes and seasonal activations to encourage extended visits and maximise community engagement.

Bader Anwahi, CEO of the Public Facilities Agency at Dubai Municipality, said:

Dubai Municipality continues to accelerate the delivery of public and neighbourhood parks in line with the Dubai Parks and Greenery Strategy and the Blue and Green Spaces Roadmap 2030. This portfolio reflects our commitment to expanding integrated public spaces within a human-centric urban ecosystem that enhances wellbeing and strengthens social cohesion.

By ensuring parks are within walking distance and designed around the evolving needs of communities, we are setting a new benchmark for the role of public spaces in improving quality of life and supporting sustainable urban growth across the emirate.

Sustainability and smart systems at the core

Environmental resilience is a central component of the new developments, with biodiversity strategies, climate adaptation measures, and sustainable systems integrated into both design and operations.

Key measures include expanded tree planting, the use of recycled irrigation water, renewable energy solutions, and the integration of artificial intelligence and robotics to improve environmental governance and resource efficiency.

Dubai Municipality also confirmed plans to engage private sector partners through public-private partnership models, supported by a unified regulatory framework to ensure consistency, operational standards, and long-term sustainability across the park network.

Multi-functional spaces for diverse communities

The new parks will follow a five-zone design approach aimed at encouraging usage throughout the day and across all age groups. These zones include early childhood play areas, active playgrounds, sports facilities for youth and adults, social and experiential food and beverage areas, and flexible community spaces.

Collectively, the developments will include more than 60 children’s play areas, 18 football fields, 20 multi-use sports courts, skate areas, running and cycling tracks, as well as shaded seating, picnic areas, water features, and landscaped green spaces.

Dubai Municipality has also introduced a centralised, data-driven planning framework to assess community needs, ensuring consistency, scalability, and long-term adaptability across all projects.

Dubai Municipality aims to deliver 310 new parks and upgrade more than 220 existing parks by 2040, creating an interconnected network of community-focused public spaces across the emirate.

The initiative reflects Dubai’s broader urban development strategy, which prioritises sustainability, quality of life, and the integration of green infrastructure into rapidly growing residential areas.