The Street Design Team co-organized a capacity-building workshop focused on cycling-friendly cities for delegates from the Government of Dubai.
The workshop brought together representatives from Dubai Police, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), the Dubai Sports Council, and the Dubai Development Authority. In addition to government entities, private-sector participants included Careem Bike — the region’s leading bike-sharing service — and Hubbers, a locally rooted bike rental and tour company based in Hatta.
The event was funded by the Consulate General of the Netherlands in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, in partnership with the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management. This collaboration reflects the Netherlands’ longstanding commitment to sharing its globally recognized expertise in active mobility and sustainable transport planning.
Through interactive presentations, group discussions, and technical sessions, participants explored key topics such as safe infrastructure design, integration of cycling with public transport, behavior change strategies, and policy development to support everyday cycling. The Dutch Cycling Embassy contributed valuable insights, drawing on decades of experience from a country where cycling is embedded in daily life.
For the Street Design Team, the workshop provided a platform for public and private stakeholders to engage in meaningful dialogue and envision a cycling-friendly future for Dubai. It also strengthened ties between Dutch and UAE institutions, paving the way for future collaboration in active mobility and urban design.
The involvement of diverse sectors — from law enforcement to education and sports — highlights the growing understanding that building a cycling-friendly city goes beyond transport planning. It requires a holistic, ecosystem-wide approach that includes health, education, tourism, sustainability, and community development.
Capacity building is essential to advancing active mobility in the region and aligns with global goals to reduce car dependency, improve public health, and create more human-centered urban environments.