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Dubai’s ‘Super Block’ Project To Create Car-Free Areas

Dubai is set to transform several residential and commercial areas into pedestrian-only zones as part of the new ‘Super Block’ initiative. This project is aimed at enhancing the city’s pedestrian-friendly environment, fostering social interaction, and promoting sustainable mobility, in line with the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan. The goal is to reduce carbon emissions, increase green spaces, and improve quality of life.

Key Areas To Benefit

The initial focus will be on areas like Al Fahidi, Abu Hail, Al Karama, and Al Quoz Creative Zone. These areas will become car-free, encouraging a more pedestrian-friendly atmosphere. The project was approved by the Dubai Executive Council, chaired by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai.

Supporting Dubai’s Vision

Sheikh Hamdan emphasized that this initiative aligns with Dubai’s broader development goals, which include making the city more sustainable and digitally innovative. As part of the Year of Community 2025, the project seeks to enhance social cohesion and contribute to the Dubai Social Agenda 33, backed by a budget of Dh208 billion.

Digital And Urban Transformation

The ‘Super Block’ initiative is part of a broader vision to integrate digital services and sustainable urban development. The Unified Digital Platform Initiative was also approved to streamline government services under a single platform, enhancing the digital experience for residents and businesses. Dubai aims to position itself as one of the top global cities for digital services by 2027, with full coverage and high customer satisfaction.

Other Initiatives

Other approved initiatives include the Community Development Fund Policy, which supports social programs, and the Strata Registration initiative, designed to enhance homeownership opportunities for UAE citizens by allowing property subdivisions and independent title deeds for each unit.

Through these efforts, Dubai continues to innovate and implement forward-thinking solutions, creating a resilient, inclusive, and sustainable society.

Only 1% Of Cyprus Farms Use Precision Farming Technologies

Cyprus remains one of the European Union’s least digitised agricultural economies, with just 1% of farms using precision farming technologies in 2023, according to Eurostat.

The findings come as the EU continues to encourage the adoption of digital tools aimed at improving agricultural productivity, efficiency and sustainability.

Internet Access Expands, But Digital Uptake Lags

Internet access has improved across the bloc, although adoption remains uneven. Eurostat found that 43% of EU farms had internet access in 2023, with northern and central European countries leading the way.

Denmark, Germany, Slovakia, Latvia, the Czech Republic and Austria all reported internet access rates above 90%.

Greater connectivity, however, has not translated into widespread digital adoption. Farm management information systems, which help farmers manage day-to-day operations, were used by only about 11% of EU farms. France was a notable exception, with around 60% of farms using the technology.

Precision Farming Concentrated In Larger Operations

Robotics adoption also remained relatively limited, with only about 7% of EU farms using robotic technologies. Overall, around 18% of farms with utilised agricultural area employed at least one precision farming technology or practice in 2023.

These included robotics for plant protection, band spraying, variable-rate application, precision crop monitoring and soil analysis. Despite representing fewer than one in five farms, these holdings accounted for around 44% of the EU’s utilised agricultural area.

The figures suggest that precision farming remains concentrated among larger agricultural businesses, where investment in digital technologies is typically easier to support.

Cyprus Lags Behind EU Leaders

Luxembourg, Finland and Estonia recorded the highest shares of utilised agricultural area managed by farms using precision farming technologies, each exceeding 75%.

At the other end of the ranking, Cyprus recorded just 1%, while Greece and Romania reported between 10% and 15%. The results indicate that Cyprus remains at an early stage of digital adoption in agriculture, even as precision farming becomes more widespread across parts of the European Union.

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