The organisers of Cityscape Global have set happiness as the overarching theme for the three-day exhibition, which returns to the Dubai World Trade Centre this month (October 2 to 4), and the Cityscape Conference (October 1) at the InterContinental Hotel, Dubai Festival City.

Developers, architects and real estate professionals are working to create happy communities that have a positive impact on residents’ lives, in line with the UAE’s goals for happiness.

Tom Rhodes, the exhibition director for the region’s largest real estate development and investment show, said the UAE’s actions have catalysed government agencies’ and local developers’ efforts to focus on the overriding well-being of residents.

“Since the inception of the nation’s happiness initiative in early 2016, we’ve seen a definitive trend of government bodies introducing similar concepts to drive the UAE’s goals for nurturing a happy, healthy population,” he observed.

“The Dubai Land Department (DLD) and Real Estate Regulatory Agency have been no different and spurred on a range of master-developed communities, projects and designs aimed at creating happiness for residents, both in the projects themselves as well as the services provided,” said Rhodes.

“Local exhibitors have embraced these initiatives, with the likes of Bloom Holding, Binghatti, Damac, Dubai Holding, Mag Lifestyle Development, Meraas and Majid Al Futtaim all striving to create environments which nurture wellbeing,” he explained.

“Through the content delivered at the Cityscape Conference and exhibited projects on the show floor, we aim to educate, encapsulate and showcase what the real estate sector offers in its endeavour to contribute to the happiness and well-being of citizens in the UAE,” he added.

Speaking ahead of his presentation on October 1, Sean Tompkins, Global CEO, Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) believes that the ultimate reward from the Fourth Industrial Revolution should be happiness.

“Happiness in a real estate community is essentially creating a place where people want to be; somewhere that makes a positive difference to people’s everyday lives,” he observed. “This is achieved by providing improved standards of living, enhanced safety and security, with the well-being of residents central to all community planning,”

According to experts, there has been more collaboration between planners, developers and end users in the creation of urban areas that were centred on well-being and sustainable living that fosters a sense of community in its residents.

Hosted at the InterContinental Hotel Dubai Festival City, the Cityscape Conference theme is “Stepping into the urban future: happiness, innovation and technology”, and will include a number of keynote talks and panel discussions on wellness and happiness.