Dubai has done something no city has done before: it has made artificial intelligence the centrepiece of a public park design competition. The world's first AI-powered park design challenge is now open, inviting global participants to reimagine Al Safa 2 Park through the lens of AI, data, and human-centred design, with AED 200,000 in prizes on the table.
The initiative was launched under the directives of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and organised by Dubai Municipality. It sits firmly within Dubai's broader push to lead global smart city development and put AI at the core of how the emirate builds its public infrastructure.
What the Competition Is Asking For
This is not a conventional design brief. Participants are expected to use AI throughout the design workflow, from site analysis and user research to concept generation, layout optimisation, and visualisation. Crucially, the brief specifies that while AI tools should drive the process, final design decisions must remain human-led. The result should be a comprehensive master plan that clearly and practically demonstrates how AI contributed to shaping the proposal.
Entries will be evaluated on six criteria: quality of AI integration, feasibility of the proposal, environmental performance, inclusivity, social impact, and the ability to translate raw data into effective urban design. A panel of government leaders and international experts will assess submissions, with community members also participating in selecting the winners.
Prize Structure and Key Dates
| Place | Prize Amount |
|---|---|
| 1st Place | AED 100,000 |
| 2nd Place | AED 65,000 |
| 3rd Place | AED 35,000 |
| Total Prize Pool | AED 200,000 |
| Application Deadline | 15 August 2026 |
| How to Enter | Dubai Municipality's official platform |
Who Can Enter
The Challenge Is Open to All of the following:
- Architects and urban planners
- Landscape designers
- Students and academic researchers
- Technology startups and AI specialists
- Innovation teams from any country
Why This Matters Beyond a Single Park
Marwan Ahmed bin Ghalita, Director-General of Dubai Municipality, has stated that winning concepts will not simply be filed away. Designs that prove their merit could directly influence future park development projects across Dubai. This makes the competition as much a policy instrument as a design exercise.
For AI startups, urban tech companies, and architecture firms, that is a significant opportunity. A winning concept does not just deliver prize money. It puts your work directly in front of the government decision-makers shaping Dubai's next generation of public spaces.
Related: Dubai Launches Agentic AI Plan to Back 295,000 Companies Across the Emirate
Also read: UAE Sets Up New Federal Authority to Lead Its AI and Data Future
The Bigger Picture
This competition is one of several signals that Dubai is actively using public sector challenges to accelerate the adoption of AI in city planning. It connects to the emirate's D33 Economic Agenda, the UAE's National AI Strategy, and the Agentic AI programme that targets support for over 295,000 businesses. Taken together, these initiatives paint a picture of a government that is not waiting for the private sector to bring AI into the built environment.
