Come step into our time machine – and buckle up.
You might think Dubai is already ahead of its time, but give it another few years (16 to be exact) and you may not even recognise it.
The city has some jaw-dropping plans in the coming decades, and has already laid out its goals for 2040.
On Tuesday March 4, the Supreme Committee for Urban Planning reviewed plans including everything from the the ‘Therme Dubai‘ project to new metro stations and sustainable housing.
Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Supreme Committee for Urban Planning, chairs the Committee’s 33rd meeting, where key strategies and projects aligned with the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan were reviewed. The meeting also reviewed the progress in achieving the vision of Mohammed… pic.twitter.com/WqyPZ6YZwy
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) March 4, 2025
Inside the masterplan, Government of Dubai details a targeted growth in population by 5.8 million, taking the total number of people living in Dubai to a staggering 7.8 million. This means that by 2040, according to one report, Dubai is expected to have a bigger population than Sydney, Australia, by then – woah.
But what else will have changed? A lot is the answer.
So let’s go full Marty McFly and whizz on to the future (you might even spot a flying car or two).
What Dubai will look like in 2040
The Dubai Metro will be gigantic – and you’ll pay with your hand
You think you love the Dubai Metro now, wait until you see it in 2040.
The line will have undergone a huge expansion, with 140 metro stations and a network that covers over 228 square kilometers.
Plans were confirmed by the Dubai Government in 2024, and it’s expected to loop in with the new Dubai Metro blue line, which will stretch over a total of 30km, with 15.5km running underground and 14.5km above ground.
The project encompasses 14 stations including 3 interchange stations and will integrate with the existing red and green lines.
Plus you might not even need a Nol card to try out all of those 140 stations, just the palm of your hand.
That’s because the RTA wants to roll out palm payments as early as 2026, meaning the system will know your biometrics and link your nol account to them. Simply scan your hand, then board the train hassle-free.
You’ll be whizzing around in pods
Electric pods — does it get anymore Dubai than this?
Although there’s no confirmation this will definitely be in place by 2040, there are plans in the works for these self-driving pods to become a staple of the city.
Currently being looked at by the RTA, the Floc Duo Rail pods can each fit up to 16 people and are said to help beat congestion (and look pretty cool).
Or grabbing a flying taxi to the office
By 2040, flying taxis will be the norm, in fact they might even be old news (that’s how soon they’re about to be introduced).
The incredible air taxis will have arrived by the first few months of 2026 and you’ll be able to get across the city in minutes.
Not only that, the flights will cost around the same as an Uber Black, which for your own private trip is a serious bargain.
There will be a second Palm
By 2040, Palm Jebel Ali will be truly up and running, you might even be living there if you’re lucky.
Backed by developer Nakheel, the island will span over 13.4km of land, with over 80 hotels and resorts, beach clubs and even a ‘celebration village’.
There isn’t a final completion date for the shiny new palm, however Palm Jumeirah took around six years to construct, so we can assume things might be up and running by then.
The coast will be unrecognisable
In 2040, you’ll be able to take a nice day trip out to the Dubai Mangrove visitor centre, or check out the 72km of coastline that will be covered in lush greenery.
That’s right, Dubai is bringing in the mangroves to help combat CO2 and protect from coastal erosion, so you can enjoy the wildlife and stroll past what should be over 100 million trees.
You’ll be flying in and out of Al Maktoum International
Your boarding pass won’t be reading DXB anymore by 2040, and you’ll most likely be flying out of the newly refurbished airport in Dubai South.
But ‘newly refurbished’ doesn’t cut it to describe the ongoing transformation at what was once just a cargo airport.
Set to become five times bigger than Dubai International Airport, all DXB operations will eventually move to the new location. The first phase will have been completed in around 10 years’ time, but the full scale of the works mean that there will still be construction and expansions going on well into the 2050s.
You’ll be getting the train to Abu Dhabi
The next station is… Abu Dhabi.
We’re all eagerly waiting on the date that Etihad Rail announces the line will open a passenger service between Dubai and the capital.
Currently only connected by road, the now freight track will soon become a route for passengers, that will get you there in under an hour. Connecting 11 different locations, if you fancy a weekend in Fujairah, it’ll take 1 hour and 45 minutes.
The track is now up and running, so it’s only a matter of time before we can get on one, and we’re pretty sure this will be the case before 2040.
Dubai will be home to the world’s tallest wellness resort
Dubai has announced ambitious plans to build the world’s tallest wellbeing resort.
Therme Dubai will feature a massive interactive park, the world’s largest indoor botanical garden and three 18-metre waterfalls.
The Dhs2 billion project will be built in Zabeel Park, one of the largest parks in Dubai, and is slated to open in 2028.
When announcing the plans in a post on X, formerly Twitter, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed said that Therme Dubai will be “an iconic addition to Dubai’s skyline.”
Source: Timeoutdubai
