WORLD’S GREATEST CITY WILL ALSO BE THE KINDEST

At the heart of Dubai’s ambition to be the world’s best city is one guiding principle: people first

- BY ASHFAQ AHMED | Managing Editor

Cities, by their very nature, are reflections of human ambition. They rise from the ground as monuments to progress, as spaces where societies converge to work, innovate, and dream. Yet, in an era where urban life is increasingly complex, shaped by rapid technological shifts, environmental challenges, and global competition, the measure of a city’s greatness is no longer just in its economic strength or skyline. It lies in something far more profound: its ability to provide a fulfilling, meaningful, and sustainable life for its people.

This, at its core, is the vision that His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, laid out during the Mohammad Bin Rashid Leadership Forum held in Dubai on Wednesday. His call was bold and unambiguous: to intensify efforts, raise benchmarks, and ensure Dubai becomes not only the world’s most advanced and beautiful city, but the best city to live in.

A city for all generations

Dubai is no stranger to global recognition. It has been celebrated for its record-breaking skyscrapers, futuristic infrastructure, and economic dynamism. But Shaikh Mohammad’s vision is deliberately people-centred. It shifts the focus from prestige to purpose.