Page 21 - Implementing ITU-T International Standards to Shape Smart Sustainable Cities: The Case of Dubai

Implementing ITU-T International Standards to Shape Smart Sustainable Cities – The Case of Dubai

Dubai’s governance mechanisms and smart sustainable city strategy

A cornerstone for Dubai’s decision-makers is to prioritise the needs of the inhabitants while
implementing technologies that create a smart sustainable city. This central goal to improve the
quality of life of the city's inhabitants through novel, more efficient, and increasingly inclusive
ICT-enabled approaches (Smart Dubai, 2016) is well documented in Dubai’s official smart city
report. The various smart city activities conducted within Dubai fall under its official smart
sustainable city initiative which is referred to as “Smart Dubai”.
The Executive Office of Dubai launched the Smart Dubai initiative and remained the entity
responsible for managing smart city projects in the Emirate until the legal formation of the Smart
Dubai Office. In November 2015, the Smart Dubai Office with an expanded leadership team
officially took over the duties related to the Smart Dubai initiative.
The Smart Dubai initiative is aligned with UAE Vision 2021 and is a major initiative contributing
to the success of Dubai Plan 2021. One distinct feature of Dubai’s aim to become the world’s
smartest city by 2017, is that it has pegged “happiness” as a decisive measure of success of its
smart city goal. Accordingly, the Smart Dubai initiative aims to combine effectiveness, positive
outcomes, and technological and architectural advancements to benefit citizens and to promote
environmental sustainability and economic growth The objectives and pillars set forth by the
Smart Dubai initiative cater to both the UAE’s National Vision 2021 and the Dubai Plan 2021
(which aim for sustainable development along with bestowing its citizens with prosperity,
security, stability and a life filled with dignity and respect).

Smart Dubai is based on a unified strategy combined with a leadership model that builds upon
existing and successful initiatives. In line with its Smart Dubai initiative, Dubai aims to be a city
where: (i) resources are optimised for maximum efficiency, (ii) services are integrated
seamlessly into daily life, (iii) people and information are protected, and (iv) the most enriching
life and business experience possible is created for all (Smart Dubai, 2016).
Within the Smart Dubai initiative, four strategic pillars have been defined as the core areas of a
unified effort from the City’s leadership towards its vision. These provide a different view of the
impact the city needs to create in tandem with all public and private stakeholders (See Figure 4).

Figure 4 – Smart Dubai Pillars (Smart Dubai, 2016)

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