Post by : Badri Ariffin

In a groundbreaking move directed by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Municipality has introduced the first-ever AI-powered park design competition. Participants globally are encouraged to reimagine Al Safa 2 Park by combining artificial intelligence with human creativity.

This competition is aimed at enhancing Dubai Municipality’s vision of integrating advanced technology, urban planning, and community engagement to redefine public parks. It showcases how AI can play a crucial role across various design stages: from site analysis and user insight to concept creation and layout refinement, while ensuring all final design choices remain human-led.

The challenge calls for innovative designs that enhance sustainability, accessibility, public well-being, social connections, and the overall quality of life within Al Safa 2 Park. Contestants must present a comprehensive master plan featuring data-supported analysis, detailed drawings, visual representations, and documentation of AI application during the design journey.

Dubai's Vision for Smart Urban Development

His Excellency Eng. Marwan Ahmed bin Ghalita, Director General of Dubai Municipality, highlighted that this initiative illustrates Dubai’s ambition to spearhead global urban innovation by merging technology with people-centered design.

He emphasized that Dubai Municipality is steadfast in launching transformative projects under its leadership’s vision, aimed at elevating living standards, fostering community involvement, and reimagining public spaces to align with the needs of residents.

Bin Ghalita underscored that AI is a tool to augment human creativity, not replace it. He noted that this initiative aims to attract talents from designers to researchers, enhancing Dubai’s stature as a model of smart, sustainable urban living.

Eligibility Criteria

The competition welcomes a diverse group of participants:

• Urban planners
• Architects
• Landscape architects
• Designers of public spaces
• Undergraduate students
• Master’s and PhD candidates
• Researchers
• Startups
• AI experts
• Innovators in technology

Competitors must clearly highlight how AI tools influenced their design process, incorporating aspects such as concept formation, environmental evaluation, user experience assessment, and design optimization.

Testing Innovations at Al Safa 2 Park

Bader Anwahi, CEO of the Public Facilities Agency at Dubai Municipality, stressed the significance of parks in enhancing community health, fostering interaction, and enriching daily life.

He noted that this challenge is breaking ground in how public spaces are conceptualized, leveraging AI to provide nuanced insights into environments, climate, and park usage, all while ensuring designs focus on practicality and inclusivity.

According to Anwahi, Al Safa 2 Park presents an ideal venue to explore AI's potential in crafting environmentally friendly and responsive public spaces, tailored to the needs of a diverse population.

Evaluation Criteria

Design entries will be assessed based on key criteria including:

• AI-integrated design quality
• Feasibility of spatial planning
• Human-centric design approach
• Inclusivity and accessibility
• Sustainability considerations
• Clarity of design vision
• Practical use of data-driven design methodologies

Prize Fund of AED200,000

The competition boasts a substantial prize pool of AED200,000.

• First Place: AED100,000
• Second Place: AED65,000
• Third Place: AED35,000

These awards aim to recognize innovative ideas that have the potential to effect real changes in urban environments.

Judging Panel and Community Involvement

An expert jury comprising senior Dubai government officials and top local and international professionals in architecture, design, AI, and urban planning will evaluate all proposals.

Following this review, selected designs will be presented for public voting, allowing the community to have a voice in the selection of winners. Dubai Municipality emphasizes its commitment to involving the public in creating parks that resonate with community aspirations and enhance the quality of living.

Submission Deadline: August 15, 2026

With this pioneering global AI-driven park design contest, Dubai Municipality aims to set a new standard for developing public spaces that synergize technology, creativity, sustainability, local character, and community engagement.

Applications are currently open, and participants can submit their entries until 15 August 2026 through the official competition portal.

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