Dubai has announced a new residential city for Emiratis which will be self-sufficient in terms of resources, transport and energy to be the first of its kind in the world. An estimated 160,000 people will live in this self-reliant city that will come up by the time Dubai hosts the World Expo in 2020. The most important of the new plans was the project titled ?Dubai Smart Sustainable City? which will be spread across a total area of 14,000 hectares and will be built in the shape of a desert flower.

The roofs of the homes and buildings will be covered with solar panels which will provide 200 megawatts of electricity. The city will also recycle over 40,000 cubic metres of waste water.

Various projects in UAE are aimed at providing sustainable living along with good life for residents of the UAE like ?The Smart Palm?. Each Smart Palm runs entirely on solar power .The Smart Palm projects are launched at DM parks, markets and now at beaches to announce weather warnings along with free WiFi service and charging points. Two interactive screens to demonstrate awareness about the emirate, including weather information, a camera and loudspeakers are the highlights of the Smart Palms that will soon be sprouting on Dubai beaches. The six-metre high solar-powered structure has solar panels fixed on top of its fronds-shaped roof. It also has an attached platform equipped with 12 charging points, designed to support both mobile phones and tablets. The photovoltaic solar panels keep the palm lit even after the sunset. The free WiFi service covers approximately an area of 53 metres around the palm, connecting at least 50 users at a time.

The first Smart Palm was installed at gate six of Zabeel Park on 21st April 2015 .These structures are entirely self-sufficient thanks to their mono crystal solar panels, which provide up to 21 per cent efficiency .The project has a palm tree-shaped, solar-powered tech hub that provides free wireless connection and facilities to recharge smartphones and tablets for visitors.  The move is part of making Dubai the most smart and sustainable city. 

source:Khaleej Times