Dubai Municipality has launched the world’s first AI-powered park design challenge, inviting participants to reimagine Al Safa 2 Park using artificial intelligence.
The challenge aims to develop innovative and implementable park designs that enhance sustainability, accessibility, wellbeing, social interaction and quality of life, while reinforcing Dubai’s position as a global leader in urban innovation and future city design.
The challenge is held under the directives of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, part of Dubai Municipality’s efforts to leverage advanced technologies, urban design and community participation to shape the future of parks and public spaces.
It explores how an integrated ecosystem of AI tools can support the complete design process, from site analysis and user insights to concept generation, scenario testing, design optimization and visualization, while ensuring final design decisions remain human-led.
Rep Image Credits: pikisuperstar@Magnific| Cropped by GBN
Participants must submit a fully integrated master plan supported by data analysis, visualizations, detailed plans and drawings, along with a clear explanation of how AI tools informed the design process.
Dubai Municipality opens challenge to professionals and students
The competition by Dubai Municipality is open to professionals in urban planning, architecture, landscape architecture and public space design, as well as undergraduate, master’s and PhD students, researchers, startups, artificial intelligence specialists and technology innovators.
Participants are required to demonstrate how AI tools were integrated into their design process to support analysis, iteration and decision-making. This may include concept exploration, spatial planning, environmental response, shade and microclimate optimization, user experience insights, performance improvement, data-informed design decisions and AI-assisted visualization.
Marwan Ahmed bin Ghalita Director General – Dubai Municipality
“The launch of the world’s first AI-powered park design challenge reflects Dubai’s ambition to lead the future of urban innovation by combining advanced technologies with human-centred design. Under the leadership’s vision, Dubai Municipality continues to develop transformative initiatives that enhance quality of life, strengthen community participation and reimagine public spaces as integrated destinations designed around people and their daily needs. I is not replacing human creativity in this challenge. It is being used as a tool to expand possibilities, deepen understanding and support better design decisions. Through this initiative, we aim to attract bold ideas from designers, researchers, students, startups and technology innovators, while reinforcing Dubai’s position as a global model for designing smart, sustainable and liveable future cities.”
Bader Anwahi, CEO of the Public Facilities Agency at Dubai Municipality, said that, “Through this challenge, Dubai Municipality is exploring a new model for public space design, where artificial intelligence helps generate deeper insights into people, place, climate and use, while ensuring that the final outcome remains practical, inclusive and centered on human experience. Al Safa 2 Park provides an opportunity to test how AI can support the design of more responsive, comfortable and sustainable public spaces. Our focus is on developing a park that is accessible, engaging and meaningful for all ages and abilities, while reflecting the needs of the community and Dubai’s identity as a city of innovation.”
Prize pool tops $54,000
Submissions will be evaluated based on the strength of the AI-integrated design approach, spatial intelligence, feasibility, human-centered experience, inclusivity, sustainability, clarity of design narrative and the ability to translate data analysis into practical spatial outcomes.
Rep Image credits: DC Studio@Magnific | Cropped by GBN
The challenge offers a total prize pool of $54,450 (AED 200,000). The first-place winner will receive $27,225 (AED 100,000), the second-place winner $17,696 (AED 65,000) and the third-place winner $9,529 (AED 35,000).
Community to help select winners
The judging panel comprises executive leaders from the Government of Dubai, alongside local and international experts in design, architecture, artificial intelligence and future city planning. After evaluating submissions and shortlisting proposals, the community will be invited to help select the winning entries.
