It's probably OK to assume that the United Arab Emirates is taking happiness more seriously than other countries. In addition to appointing a Minister of State for Happiness earlier this year, Dubai has just announced plans to build a district entirely devoted to making its residents happy.
Dubai South, the government organization developing southern Dubai where the Al Maktoum International Airport is located, made the announcement. They are calling it a world first. The development will be an "innovative concept in urban living that aims to create a city that is based on the happiness and wellbeing of people," according to a statement given to Arabian Business .
Apparently, the development will uniquely address residents' everyday needs by creating a highly walkable city with plenty of parking spots and enough entry points to eliminate traffic congestion. Our question: shouldn't all those things be included in any new development anyway?
According to Dubai South, this project will take an exceptional approach to addressing residents' happiness.
"At Dubai South, we welcome you to the City of You, to be part of a reinvented urban ecosystem and experience, for the very first time, a city designed primarily on the happiness and wellbeing of its people, with the aim of providing solutions for everyday living. The time has come to welcome home happiness," Executive Chairman Khalifa Al Zaffin of Dubai Aviation City Corporation and Dubai South said.
Dubai South is currently developing 87 million square feet of real estate for its Residential District. So far, The Villages and The Pulse developments have been launched in the district, part of eight total in Dubai South.
"The Villages was the first residential project launched by Dubai South and is due for completion in 2018. A pedestrian-centric family-focused community set amidst serene purpose-planned green open spaces, this master planned community offers unique real estate products such as alley-loaded townhouses and apartments catering to both the young professionals and families," Dubai South CEO Ahmed Al Ansari told Arabian Business.
"The Pulse is one of our exclusive mixed-use projects located in the heart of the Residential District. It will offer studio, one, two and three bedroom apartments and two and three bedroom townhouses within a gated community. Plenty parking spaces will be available dedicated for the residents and visitors. The community will also have a club houses with a gym, pool, children’s playground and a yoga lounge."
In more concrete terms, Dubai South is building a city that's family friendly, walkable and has great facilities for relaxing. It sounds great and residents will probably be very happy to live there.
The UAE ranked No. 28 on the 2016 World Happiness Report, a drop from No. 20 in 2015. The decrease was chalked up to the fact that expats were not previously included in the survey. Still, the country seems to be serious about raising the bar moving forward.