Latest news with #SuperBlock
Time Out Dubai
3 days ago
- Time Out Dubai
Super Block: 4 Dubai neighbourhoods will become car-free zones
Several of Dubai's most bustling neighbourhoods are set to become car-free zones in the near future. Al Karama, one of the oldest and most densely populated areas of the city, will say goodbye to cars as part of the Super Block initiative. Home to thousands of people, plus heaps of restaurants and shops, Al Karama is often also chock-a-block with traffic, and plans announced earlier this year aim to put an end to that. In February, Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum announced that Dubai will take a big step towards sustainability with its new Super Block initiative, designed to transform residential neighbourhoods into car-free zones. The initiative aims to create pedestrian-friendly areas, enhancing the city's livability and prioritising green spaces for its residents. In addition to Al Karama, the other car-free zones include neighbourhoods like Al Fahidi, Abu Hail, and Al Quoz Creative Zone. These areas will shift focus from cars to pedestrians and cyclists, boosting green spaces and putting the focus on communal recreational spaces. Al Karama will soon become a car-free zone. So, when can we expect cars to get off the roads in Al Karama? Plans such as these take a long time to put together but, with the initiative being a key part of the Dubai Quality of Life Strategy 2033 and the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, we should expect the pedestrian-friendly zones to be in place in the coming years. By encouraging walking and cycling, Dubai is not just promoting a healthier lifestyle, but also reducing its carbon footprint as part of its commitment to the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan. In addition to the car-free zones in these four neighbourhoods, we can also expect more green spaces to be introduced across the city. The Super Block initiative is one piece of Dubai's larger vision for a greener future. In line with the Dubai Quality of Life Strategy 2033, the city has already set plans for Therme Dubai, a well-being resort that will feature the world's largest indoor botanical garden. Plus, Dubai is working on a 6,500km network of modern walkways, ensuring enhanced pedestrian access throughout the city. But the green revolution doesn't stop there. In 2025, the city confirmed that a whopping 300,000 trees had been planted as part of landscaping works worth Dhs190m. These projects are just the beginning of Dubai's efforts to make the city more sustainable, walkable and enjoyable for all. Yet another reason to love living here. In other Dubai news 7 major Dubai visa changes you need to know about in 2025 New ways of getting a long-term stay 36 major traffic improvement projects coming soon to Dubai And some sooner than you think Dubai is going cashless: This is what it means for you Say goodbye to coins and notes
Business Insider
29-06-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
OverProtocol partners with Pocket Network to supercharge growing South Korean Web3 industry
Partnership will see OverProtocol contributor SuperBlock become Korea's first Pocket Network gateway OverProtocol, a Layer-1 blockchain designed to enable full node operation on personal devices, has partnered with decentralized infrastructure protocol Pocket Network to make Web3 infrastructure higher-performing, more cost-competitive, and accessible to all. OverProtocol aims to democratize infrastructure participation by minimizing system requirements, and is building an ecosystem that includes OverFlex, a real-world voucher marketplace, enabling both Web3 and non-crypto users to not only participate, but benefit from real-world utility. Securing Unstoppable Infrastructure for South Korean Web3 Companies Pocket Network and OverProtocol are both seeking to democratize node participation through building a highly decentralized, secure, and accessible network. The partnership will see the integration and promotion of Pocket's decentralized RPC layer to support both OverProtocol and other chains. The Pocket Network Foundation will provide a subsidy for gateway throughput in the form of a token swap with OverProtocol – providing technical support as required and introducing both SuperBlock, and Over Protocol to the Pocket Network Ecosystem. 'Our goal is to make Web3 infrastructure accessible to everyone. Partnering with Pocket creates powerful synergy — enabling us to deliver decentralized, reliable services and empowering users to become active contributors,' said Ben Kim, CEO of SuperBlock and Founder of OverProtocol. Paving the Way for Korean Blockchain Innovation The partnership will see SuperBlock, which builds products, tools, and applications for OverProtocol, become the first Pocket Network gateway in Korea, helping subsidize Web3 startup infrastructure costs in the country – similar to how AWS gives away free cloud credits. SuperBlock will ultimately serve as the gateway to take advantage of the progress made by public Layer-1s in the region like Kaia. Furthermore, Pocket Network and OverProtocol are partnering to develop a KRW stablecoin distribution framework aligned with Korean regulatory standards. Pocket Network will enhance access and network stability through its decentralized RPC infrastructure, while OverProtocol will drive adoption by integrating the KRW stablecoin into real-world use cases—bridging core blockchain infrastructure with practical financial applications. OverProtocol's global DAU has topped 150,000, and it's deployed over 3,400 personal nodes across 143 countries using its dynamic lightweight infrastructure. It will leverage this experience to provide efficient and scalable RPC endpoints to Pocket Network. Long-term, OverProtocol envisions a standalone dApp architecture hosted entirely on personal nodes without centralized servers – a truly decentralized application. The Pocket Network x OverProtocol collaboration could evolve into decentralized Content Delivery Network (CDN) capabilities for dApps via RPC endpoints within the Pocket Network, further strengthening decentralized infrastructure. For additional information about OverProtocol, users can follow on Twitter, YouTube, Discord, Instagram, Facebook, Telegram, and Medium About OverProtocol OverProtocol is a Layer-1 blockchain network committed to fostering a truly decentralized ecosystem, allowing anyone to serve as a validator by empowering individuals to run full nodes on personal computers. Its vision is to create a global peer-to-peer network that welcomes contributions from individuals worldwide, enhancing its security and stability through collective collaboration. Pocket Network is a decentralized blockchain data platform that provides access to blockchain data for Web3 decentralized applications (dApps). It acts as a relay network, connecting applications to full nodes (which store and process blockchain data.) Pocket uses a native cryptocurrency, POKT, to facilitate this process, creating a marketplace where node providers can earn rewards for servicing application requests. Contact
The National
14-02-2025
- Automotive
- The National
Will Elon Musk's Loop drive down Dubai traffic?
There is no denying that Elon Musk – the billionaire tech mogul, space flight pioneer and confidante to US President Donald Trump – has a special way of presenting new projects. Speaking via video call to an audience attending the last day of the World Governments Summit in Dubai yesterday, Mr Musk said a proposed underground road network for the city is 'going to be like a wormhole. You just wormhole from one part of the city to another'. Tesla is set to work with the emirate's authorities to build the Dubai Loop – an ambitious urban transport project that will resemble the Las Vegas Loop, a $47-million system built by Mr Musk's Boring Company. That project opened in 2021 and carries convention centre visitors in high-speed tunnels to avoid surface traffic. The American project took two years to build the tunnels and five stations for 70 driverless vehicles to travel through, and there are plans to further develop it into a sprawling system of 100 stations that will connect the Nevada city's airport to hotels and casinos. As enterprising as this sounds, Mr Musk's joint project with Dubai is in keeping with the emirate's future-focused ideas about making the city greener, more liveable and easier to get around. Like Dubai, Las Vegas is one of the world's hottest urban areas and below-ground transport is regarded as ideal for reducing emissions and ensuring smoother journeys. The Dubai Loop is just one of several current projects that aim to cut congestion and better connect one of the world's fastest growing cities. Technical studies of Dubai's solar-powered Railbus network are ongoing and the city has plans to more the double its number of Metro stations by 2040. In addition, Dubai is planning other ways to reduce the number of vehicles on its roads, such as the Super Block project – unveiled earlier this month, this aims to transform key areas into pedestrian zones with more greenery, shared public spaces and greater opportunities for social interaction. The drive to create new and innovative modes of transport – thereby improving the quality of life in urban areas – is something that the UAE as a whole is embracing. The Etihad Rail project, which has been advancing since work began on it in 2009, took a significant step forward in January when plans for a 30-minute high-speed train service connecting Abu Dhabi to Dubai were unveiled. The UAE capital also looks set to embrace flying taxis, with one company, Archer Aviation, saying earlier this month that it hopes to get Abu Dhabi's first flying taxis in the air this year, adding that its long-term goal is to replace 60 to 90-minute trips by car with 10 to 20-minute electric air journeys. For now, the focus is on this high-profile plan to dig underground roads in the desert. It is certainly a bold move, and Dubai will be watching the progress and expansion of Mr Musk's Las Vegas Loop closely. It may be the case that, in a few short years, Dubai travellers will indeed be 'wormholing' their way from one part of the city to another.
What's On
10-02-2025
- Business
- What's On
RTA's Rail Bus: A new transport system is coming to Dubai
A brand new mode of transport is coming to Dubai, announced by RTA… Big news for Dubai commuters – a brand new mode of transport is coming to Dubai and the Roads and Transport Authority has just revealed the project at the World Government Summit. Plans for a Rail Bus have been announced by the RTA, an initiative aimed at the grand goal of the near future: easing traffic congestion on the roads. A different version of the Metro network, essentially, the Rail Bus will be a bus instead of a train on tracks and move on a network of bridges across the city. Specifications of the vehicle have been released as well – 11.5 metres in length, 2.65 metres in width, sailing at speeds of 100 km/h. The bus will carry a capacity of 40 passengers and will be a sustainable, environment-friendly and cost-effective way of moving around the city, adding to the umbrella of public transport services in Dubai, along with the Metro, the Tram, buses and taxis. Dubai's road infrastructure is transforming Urgent initiatives are being taken to achieve multiple goals in Dubai, including making it a cleaner, greener, more carbon-footprint friendly city. In order to reduce traffic, ease congestion and soothe the woes of thousands of daily commuters, new initiatives like Salik's dynamic pricing, hikes in parking fees and congestion fees are being put into place. The Super Block initiative will see four Dubai neighbourhoods – Al Fahidi, Abu Hail, Al Karama and Al Quoz Creative Zone – set to become car-free pedestrian zones. H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister offered the update as part of the Super Block initiative. This is part of a push to enhance residents' quality of life by making areas greener, with pedestrians and cyclists prioritised. It also falls in line with the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, which aims to enhance infrastructure. The RTA has also announced that it has slashed traffic by 60 per cent in some areas after a series of traffic upgrades to 50 locations. Areas improved include Beirut Street, improvements to the intersection of Al Khawaneej Street with Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Street and expansion of traffic movement from Al Rabat Street to Business Bay Crossing. Stay tuned for further details to be revealed on the Rail Bus project… @rta_dubai Images: Socials > Sign up for FREE to get exclusive updates that you are interested in
Filipino Times
10-02-2025
- Filipino Times
Dubai's initiative to create car-free, pedestrian-friendly residential areas
Dubai just launched a new initiative to turn several residential areas into car-free, pedestrian-friendly zones. Recently, Dubai's Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, approved a series of initiatives that improve the quality of life across the emirate. Get the latest news instantly on your phone—join the Filipino Times WhatsApp channel now! The 'Super Block' initiative solidifies Dubai's position as a global leader in pedestrian-friendly urban living. Through this project, the emirate is dedicated to transforming selected urban areas into pro-pedestrian zones, fostering sustainable mobility, enhancing social interaction, and improving overall quality of life. Under the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, the initiative also aims to reduce carbon emissions by designating car-free residential areas in Al Fahidi, Al Karama, Abu Hail, and Al Quoz Creative Zone. A car-free residential area not only encourages residents and citizens to walk and cycle more often to promote a healthier lifestyle but also reduces carbon footprint across the emirate. It can also improve air quality, create safer streets, enhance community interaction, reduce traffic congestion, and provide more green spaces.
