Dubai invented flexible, dynamic model for itself to deal with massive growth: Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem

Speaking about regional concerns and challenges at a session held recently at the World Economic Forum in Davos on 'Urban Infrastructure: Starting from the ground up', Mr. Bin Sulayem said, 'While historically cities have evolved gradually over longer periods of time, in the UAE, we are creating cities almost overnight, and this unprecedented rate of growth bring with it a unique set of challenges. These challenges give birth to opportunities for innovation and creativity.'

He said that Dubai World's key objective is providing necessary infrastructure while ensuring sustainable development when designing, building and funding infrastructure in places where factors are prone to change and are unpredictable.

Focus on sustainability, flexibility, connectivity, coordination to match infrastructure provision with growth and financial commitment are all integral parts of Dubai World's project planning.

'We strive to provide a high quality of living, which requires not only the physical infrastructure, but also social and technological infrastructure. Power, water, roads and sewers, as well as schools, hospitals, parks, leisure spaces, hotels, retail outlets, require equal importance. More importantly, a unique identity for developed communities is vital to give residents a sense of belonging. This is our role as master planners.'

Mr. Bin Sulayem said that lack of collaboration and coordination by relevant agencies, and lack of integrated planning pose the greatest risks to large project planning. He said, 'In Dubai, we make sure there is careful coordination of all people and organisations who are part of team building the city.

'Dubai is a city that dares to dream and do things differently from the rest of the world. Companies like Nakheel and Limitless say yes to extraordinary vision when conventional wisdom says no; we build projects like The Palm, The World, which people said would be impossible to build.'

Other senior officials of Dubai World also took part in the World Economic Forum in Davos.