Dubai is planning a 93-km air-conditioned cycleway dubbed The Loop

Dubai, a city in the United Arab Emirates known for luxury shopping, and very modern architecture, is working on a scheme called The Loop that would connect more than three million residents to a healthy mode of transport, namely walking and cycling. The Loop is a 93-km climate-controlled cycleway and pathway system. For real.

Dubai has a new 20-minute city initiative and The Loop is part of a major effort to make cycling and walking the primary mode of transport for daily commutes for more than 80 per cent of residents by 2040.

Other features of The Loop include the following:

• Zero emissions transport system
• 100% renewable energy using kinetic power from flooring
• 100% recycled water for irrigation
• Additional amenities for residents
• Promotes health & wellbeing activities
• Vertical farms for food security

THE LOOP project is masterminded by URB, a global leader in developing sustainable cities.

“Dubai is the best place for entrepreneurship in urban mobility. THE LOOP project is an embodiment of that entrepreneurial spirit, which aims to make Dubai the most connected city on earth by foot or bike. In Europe most people ride bicycles or walk to get to work. In Dubai, our aim is to get more than 80% of people to use a bike on a daily basis,” explains URB CEO Baharash Bagherian. “Dubai is currently primarily built for car travel. It’s major road infrastructures & networks have disconnected communities by walking or cycling, thus we need an entrepreneurial mindset in reconnecting these neighborhoods, whilst making cycling or walking the primary mode of transport all year round to any part of the city.”

The Loop is described as a “paradigm shift from car-centric infrastructure to people-centric infrastructure.” The projects aims to creae a new benchmark for the world’s smartest cycling and walking infrastructure.

Design rendering of the exterior of The Loop