Hamid Khalifa Al Ali, the Director of Irrigation Systems at the Dubai Municipality, stated that the Smart Irrigation Systems initiative launched in 2022 is progressing rapidly towards its goal of covering all green spaces in the emirate by 2030.
In a press statement during the 27th edition of the WETEX exhibition, he explained that the system utilizes artificial intelligence technology to determine the daily water requirements for plants based on weather data, humidity levels, and temperatures. This innovation helps to pause irrigation during rainy periods and increase it in hot, dry conditions.
He noted that the project has already achieved coverage for 50% of Dubai’s parks, emphasizing that the system has successfully reduced water consumption by up to 30%. This reduction allows for the reinvestment of saved water into expanding green areas throughout the emirate. Currently, the Dubai Municipality operates 420 irrigation stations connected to a remote control system, with plans to fully integrate AI technologies into all systems by 2030.
He emphasized that the initiative not only helps conserve water, a crucial resource for energy, but also plays a role in lowering maintenance costs and reducing the need for fertilizers and chemicals due to minimized soil washing caused by over-irrigation.
He concluded by stating that the Dubai Municipality is committed to its vision of doubling green spaces and ensuring their sustainability through smart irrigation systems by the year 2030.