LOOP Highway URB
The Loop Cycling Highway by URB
15.10.2024
   Reading 2 min
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Last year, URB, an Emirati architectural firm, unveiled another groundbreaking project: The Loop, a sustainable highway designed for cyclists and pedestrians. This 93-kilometre-long structure is envisioned to encourage Dubai’s residents to transition from car travel to healthier, more sustainable modes of transportation. One of the proposed routes would wind through key neighbourhoods like Expo City, JLT, Al Quoz, Downtown Dubai, Meydan, and Academic City.

Powered by a zero-emissions transport system, The Loop would operate on 100% renewable energy thanks to its kinetic pavement made of repurposed car tyres. It would collect energy created by a person’s footstep. Enclosed within a glass tube, the highway would also offer a climate-controlled environment, making it comfortable year-round. Beyond just a transportation route, The Loop is designed to include leisure and wellness amenities such as playgrounds, hotels, fitness centres, and sports courts. Additionally, the structure would feature neighbourhood pocket parks, allotments, and integrated vertical farms, contributing to more locally produced food in the city. There would also be irrigation systems powered by recycled water to reduce resource use.

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The Loop. Courtesy of URB.

The Loop aligns with Dubai’s vision of becoming a 20-minute city by 2040, where residents can access daily necessities and destinations within a 20-minute walk or bike ride. Baharash Bagherian, URB’s CEO, highlights that Dubai is currently built predominantly for car travel, resulting in disconnected communities and significant gaps in cycling and public transport infrastructure. By integrating these services, The Loop aims to bridge these gaps, making it easier for residents to combine cycling with their daily commutes over longer distances.

About URB

URB is a leading developer specialising in Net Zero Sustainable Cities. The company is made up of a team of urban planners, architects, landscape designers, and engineers dedicated to advancing sustainability in the industry. One of URB’s key initiatives is The URB Incubator, a Dubai-based research and development programme that supports early-stage urban tech entrepreneurs and invests in start-ups addressing critical challenges in urbanisation and climate change.

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The Loop (aerial view).

URB was established by Baharash Bagherian, an award-winning architect and designer who also serves as the company’s CEO. Bagherian is the author of Human Centric Urban Innovations, a book that outlines blueprints for the next generation of sustainable cities and the essential assets and infrastructures needed to create them. His impressive portfolio includes projects like The Sustainable City Yiti in Oman and The Sustainable City Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. With 20 years of experience, Bagherian is committed to integrating nature, culture, and technology in his designs, offering a comprehensive approach to design and sustainability.

To learn more about The Loop, which is presently in the research and development stage, please visit the project’s official web page.

You may also be interested in reading about the Dubai Urban Tech District and Dubai Reefs, projects which are also developed by URB.

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