Future smart cities around the world should lead to less movement on the roads.
Activities such as working, studying and shopping will be done remotely, speakers at a Dubai forum said on Wednesday.
Tech-driven cities would mean businesses could be mobile and virtual, allowing them to go to their customer or employee, instead of people moving daily to buy items to work, study or shop.
At the Future Innovation Summit in Dubai, a panel session called ‘The role of technology in sustainable future smart cities' discussed what such smart cities would resemble.
Matt Moeller, a business and growth coach in Dubai popularly known as Matt Mo CVO, said “we should not need to go to so many different places to get things done”.
“Today, we need a car or public transport to go to work, school or the supermarket,” he said.
“This needs to become a more close environment, for example, shops don’t need to have so many branches, restaurants don’t need to be in every corner of the city. You can have mobile units.”
He said the UAE has “a lot of benefits” over other countries when it comes to building smart cities because “there is a lot of space to build things”.
Dubai has a vision of becoming a futuristic city that would include the Hyperloop — high-speed transportation that could significantly reduce traffic and travel time — autonomous cars on the road and even the possibility of flying cars.
A display at Museum of the Future, which shows what the city could look like in the year 2071, includes these features as well as rockets lifting off from Dubai deserts.
The building, a silver structure decorated in Arabic script, opened to the public in February and is the world's first "future" museum. It was designed to inspire discussions and ideas of what the future could be like.
Prof Maurits van Rooijen, a socio-economic historian and geographer, said people should be “more selective with their movements”.
He also said smart cities should be able to serve people of determination.
“It's a sign of civilisation when we really understand that people have different needs — not just special needs, but different needs,” he said.
“And those who need extra care really are being taken care of in the communities. I think this is something that you would really highlight as something very important here, not just for you personally but also that society understands is how important it is."
Dubai Urban Plan 2040 - in pictures
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Beaches will be extended by 400 per cent and 60 per cent of Dubai will be nature reserves under the 2040 plan. Courtesy: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Twitter -
Beaches will be extended by 400 per cent and 60 per cent of Dubai will be nature reserves under the 2040 plan. Courtesy: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Twitter -
Historical images of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and Sheikh Rashid, former Ruler of Dubai, at the presentation of the Dubai 2040 plan. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office -
The Dubai Urban Master Plan 2040, signed by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, at an exhibition of the Dubai 2040 plan. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, signs the Dubai Urban Master Plan 2040. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, launches the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan. Wam -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, at an exhibition of the Dubai 2040 plan. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office -
Sixty per cent of Dubai will be covered in nature reserves, under the 2040 plan unveiled by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai. Courtesy: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Twitter -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, launch the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan. Wam -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, launches the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan. Wam -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, launch the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan. Wam -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, launched the Dubai 2040 plan with a move to overhaul the emirate's landscape. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office -
The Dubai Urban Master Plan 2040, signed by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office -
Since 1960, Dubai has implemented seven urban plans to keep up with the emirate's growing population. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, unveils the 2040 plan to overhaul the city's urban landscape. Courtesy: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Twitter -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, unveils the 2040 plan to overhaul the city's urban landscape. Courtesy: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Twitter -
Since 1960, Dubai has brought in eight urban plans to keep up with the emirate's growing population. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office
