Dubai may soon feature a 93-kilometer indoor cycling superhighway, reshaping its urban landscape for sustainable transport.

URB, a Dubai-based developer, has unveiled a bold vision for the city’s future, including a range of environmentally conscious projects aimed at making Dubai a hub for sustainability and wellness. One standout proposal is a 93-kilometer indoor, climate-controlled “sustainable urban highway.”

If realized, “The Loop” is set to become the world’s most advanced cycling and running infrastructure, according to URB CEO Baharash Bagherian. “The goal is to turn Dubai into the most walkable and bike-friendly city on the planet,” he explained.

Designed to encircle the city, this vast structure would create a car-free “green corridor” filled with trees and greenery, offering residents a safe and scenic route to walk or cycle across Dubai.

URB has also proposed a vast agritourism project in Dubai’s desert, which it believes could set a new standard for sustainable agriculture, environmental education, and eco-tourism in the region, if developed.

Distinct from The Loop, the “Agri Hub” would span approximately 40 hectares and feature educational and research spaces, along with eco-lodges, farm shops, and restaurants that emphasize farm-to-table dining.

Baharash Bagherian explains that the Agri Hub is designed to offer visitors a deeper understanding of sustainable practices. “We aim to broaden people’s perspectives,” he says. “Agritourism shouldn’t just be about farm tours or fruit picking. This project redefines agritourism to create value for everyone—retailers, farmers, and consumers alike—all contributing to a greener economy.”

“Shifting towards a more sustainable, greener economy”

Baharash Bagherian has previously led the design of Phase 2 of Dubai’s “The Sustainable City” and has been involved in similar green community projects currently underway in Yiti, Oman, and Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.

“The entire world is heading towards a more sustainable economy,” Bagherian states. “The most successful economies will be those that embrace sustainability and green projects like this as soon as possible.”

The Agri Hub’s distinctive, serpentine design will feature a vast steel canopy and pre-cast concrete panels, with its carbon footprint offset by the sustainable operations of the site itself.

URB aims for the Agri Hub to be a zero-waste project with fossil-fuel-free transportation. It will include a biogas plant that generates energy from organic waste, and parts of the development will be partially subterranean to help regulate temperatures naturally.

Given the scarcity of fresh water in Dubai, the project will incorporate bio-saline farming, where crops thrive in saltwater, and utilize recycled gray water from the site for irrigation. Public spaces will feature drought-resistant plants, rain gardens, and bioretention areas that require no irrigation and support local wildlife such as birds and insects.

Similar to The Loop, the Agri Hub will rely entirely on recycled water for irrigation and will be powered entirely by kinetic energy.

URB states that private investors will fund the projects, and feasibility studies are currently being conducted to determine the ideal location for the Agri Hub. Bagherian anticipates construction to begin in 2024, with The Loop potentially ready for use by 2040 for cyclists and runners in Dubai.