The Urban Thinkers Campus, which was launched by Dubai Land Department, DLD, through its educational arm, the Dubai Real Estate Institute, DREI, in cooperation with the United Nations, concluded yesterday with discussions on investment and real estate innovation, smart and sustainable living, wellness and happiness, innovative asset management, and affordable housing.

The sessions, hosted by Dubai for the second time, focused on strategies for sustaining the real estate market and shaping the future of urban planning up to 2030 and beyond.

Sultan Butti bin Mejren, Director General of DLD, said, "We are inspired by the directives of Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who launched the ‘Dubai Industrial Strategy 2030’ to elevate Dubai's position as a global platform for sustainable knowledge and innovation. To achieve this vision, we must share experiences from global cities and top experts in sustainable and urban development, and address the challenges to develop proactive solutions for future growth."

Participants agreed that addressing the challenges faced by some cities, such as rising implementation costs, time pressure, lack of qualified staff, inflexible infrastructure and resistance to change in the adoption of modern technology, is a crucial part of achieving this strategy. The participants recommended that upcoming measures in the real estate sector should also be considered in order to meet and respond to such challenges.

Bin Mejren added, "We are delighted to have hosted this successful forum in Dubai again and to have provided decision-makers, urban developers and technology experts with an opportunity to find innovative solutions to the current problems our cities are facing. As a result, the forum has contributed to enhancing Dubai's position as a place where pioneering initiatives are launched and where a successful model for modern urban development is being realised in alignment with the highest sustainability standards."

Mahmoud El Burai, CEO of DREI, said, "We launched a number of initiatives during the forum, including the announcement that we will be hosting the International Real Estate Federation Congress and World Congress ‘FIABCI 2018’. We also launched the Urban Journalism Academy, the first two global reports within the Sustainable Cities Reports Platform, the Real Estate Sustainability Ambassadors initiative, and the Urban Challenge, a competition for redesigning public spaces."

Policy and decision-makers play a vital role in enhancing the local real estate market by introducing laws and regulations that encourage investments while also protecting and improving the expertise of all parties involved in realising Dubai’s vision for the future.