Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, attended the launch of the Dubai Digital Twin Platform on Thursday, marking what officials described as a new strategic milestone in the emirate’s digital transformation agenda.
The launch took place during a workshop organised by Dubai Municipality under the title “Partners in Building the Digital Twin,” attended also by Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai, and Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications.
Sheikh Hamdan said the project reflects Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s vision for using data and advanced technology to build a more future-ready city.
“It marks a new strategic milestone in Dubai’s journey to strengthen its position as the world’s best city to live, work, and invest in, and as a global model for innovation and digital transformation. We continue to build an integrated digital ecosystem based on data integration, artificial intelligence, and high-impact partnerships between the public and private sectors. This will accelerate the development of innovative solutions that enhance Dubai’s readiness for future changes, reinforce its global leadership in smart cities and digital transformation, and support a knowledge-based and innovation-driven economy aligned with Dubai’s ambitions for the years and decades ahead,” he said in a statement.
At the event, Sheikh Hamdan witnessed the signing of memoranda of understanding between Dubai Municipality and Al-Futtaim Group and Huawei to support the platform’s next phase, covering Digital Twin technologies, research, and future foresight.
The platform functions as a virtual replica of Dubai, drawing on data covering infrastructure, buildings, landmarks, master plans, and residential units.
Phase three of the project produced 3D models of more than 195,000 buildings across the emirate, alongside more than 280,000 infrastructure assets and more than 330,000 public facilities and assets. The platform now incorporates more than 1,500 geospatial data layers and over 100 two- and three-dimensional applications spanning multiple sectors.
“The completion of the Digital Twin project represents a strategic milestone in Dubai’s journey towards building a smarter and more sustainable city. It embodies the leadership’s vision of leveraging advanced technologies and data to enhance government services, improve the efficiency of asset and infrastructure management, and elevate quality of life. This achievement is the result of integration and collaboration among various government entities and strategic partners,” Eng. Marwan Ahmed Bin Ghalita, Director General of Dubai Municipality added.
“The Digital Twin provides a comprehensive digital environment that unifies spatial and operational data within a single platform, enabling the simulation and analysis of future scenarios and supporting more efficient decision-making. The next phase will focus on expanding integration with partners and maximising the use of data to support vital sectors across the emirate,” Eng. Maryam Al Muhairi, CEO of the Buildings Regulation and Permits Agency at Dubai Municipality further explained.
