dubai is set to build the world’s largest, net-zero carbon urban tech district

URB unveils plans for dubai’s new urban tech district

Architectural practice URB has unveiled its plans to develop the world’s largest Urban Tech District along the Al Jaddaf Creekside in Dubai, UAE. With innovation and sustainability at its core, the project joins the global transition towards achieving net-zero carbon goals by proposing a host of ‘green’ programs and practices. The new complex will also become home to top-tier entrepreneurs, establishing Dubai as an urban center for innovation and empowering a unique tech ecosystem to unfold in the emirate and across the world. Commercial and educational facilities will equally populate the hub, boasting a biophilic indoor design that promotes wellbeing.

Dubai’s Urban Tech District | all images courtesy of URB

the largest net-zero carbon innovation hub 

URB’s ambitious project is set to become the world’s largest Urban Tech District, spanning 140,000 square meters. It will provide facilities for conferences, training, research, seminars, and business incubation, among other amenities. As a net-zero carbon hub, it will offset all of its embodied carbon emissions from construction and operation and later reduce the footprint of its partner businesses to enable a low-carbon workforce. The design team plans to integrate additional sustainability efforts by including onsite urban farming, solar farms, passive design features, and light and temperature sensors.

Enabling the growth of urban solutions at a much larger scale, the district will provide investment opportunities to innovators tackling some of the most crucial issues related to sustainable cities, as well as an accelerating platform for a new breed of rapidly growing, cutting-edge companies. The proposal will also become home to the Urban Tech Institute, where the next generation of leaders will meet and grow. It will offer opportunities to pilot innovations based on applied research while driving public-private partnerships to accelerate the global transitions towards climate-friendly and durable changes.

with a total of 140,000 square meters, the proposal is set to become the world’s largest Urban Tech District

promoting a collaborative ecosystem

Baharash Bagherian, CEO of URB, comments: ‘Dubai is best positioned to lead the Urban Tech transformation than any other city in the world. The Urban Tech District will be a new global tech hub for urban innovation.’

‘Urban Tech will be at the core of all future cities. The global urban tech market is estimated to be $158 billion dollars, which is expected to grow rapidly in the next decade. Tech-enabled urban developments seek to provide solutions to the challenges created by urbanisation in various areas such as zero-mile food production, food security, affordable & scalable renewable energy, low energy demand water harvesting, zero-waste management, and waste to energy solutions. These are just some of the many challenges our cities our facing’, concludes the team.

the project will help accelerate the global transition towards sustainability

facilities include offices, conference rooms, training and research areas, and a business center

the interiors will promote wellbeing through a biophilic design

project info:

name: Urban Tech District

location: Dubai, UAE
architecture: URB

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edited by: ravail khan | designboom