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Abu Dhabi’s ‘pocket cities’ offer a blueprint for life in 2030 and beyond

Through the eyes of futurist Gerd Leonhard, discover how Abu Dhabi’s urban developments offer a comprehensive model for the cities of the future.

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Why futurism matters

"My work is not about predicting the future but observing what is happening and try to help companies and governments around the world to plan for their preferred future,"

says Swiss-German futurist Gerd Leonhard, CEO of The Futures Agency.

Futurism began as an art movement but has evolved into a discipline critically examining current societal, technological, and economic trends to plan for a preferred future. In today's unpredictable world, futurism is considered essential for governments seeking sustainable prosperity.

Leonhard compares his role to that of a therapist, shining a light on truths people subconsciously know but haven’t addressed. “My job helps identify the things that could change if you were ready to look at them,” he explains. Central to his theory is shifting to a new economic paradigm that prioritizes the “four Ps”: people, planet, purpose, and prosperity. “For too long we’ve relied on a simple model: profit and growth,” he warns. “That model is outdated.”

A global shift towards the four Ps is already evident, as more governments steadily integrate sustainability, social responsibility, and human-centricity into their national strategies. Those who do so will have the power to “build the future,” Leonhard argues, but it all hinges on “who is listening, and making the right choices.”

Abu Dhabi, it turns out, is listening closely.

Incorporating futurist principles into its Vision 2030, the emirate is breaking new ground - both figuratively and literally - on cities that Leonhard once only dreamed of.

That same commitment is reflected in TAMM, Abu Dhabi’s official digital government platform, which is transforming how citizens, residents, and visitors engage with over 1,100 government services - seamlessly, intuitively, and sustainably.

Building the cities of tomorrow

“Pocket cities” are the purest demonstration of Abu Dhabi’s futurist principles. Each of these state-of-the-art urban developments is dedicated to a central tenet of Leonhard’s philosophy, be it sustainability, technology, or cultural enrichment.

Most notable is Masdar City, the physical embodiment of the Abu Dhabi’s technological prowess. Coined “the City of Tomorrow,” this sustainable urban metropolis and business free zone is home to leading institutions like the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, the UAE Space Agency, and International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

A living laboratory for climate solutions, Masdar features innovations such as smart grids, autonomous transportation, and net-zero emission buildings. Over 90% of its buildings utilize low-carbon cement and recycled aluminum, consuming 40% less energy and water compared to traditional developments.

Leonhard recently toured Masdar and saw its innovations as evidence that urgent action is possible.

"We have the means. We have the money. We have the tech," he says. "If our incentive is a good future - if that's what we want - then we have to act accordingly today."

Other pocket cities include Yas Island, a 25km creative playground that will soon host Disney’s first theme park resort in the Middle East, one of the largest tourism projects in the region. And just a 25-minute drive away is Saadiyat Island. Home to educational institutions like New York University Abu Dhabi and the forthcoming Zayed National Museum and The Guggenheim, Saadiyat is ensuring that any development is underpinned by rigorous academic research.

While these hubs lay the physical groundwork for the future, TAMM lays the digital one, ensuring services are always accessible and adapt to people’s needs in real-time.

For Leonhard, these pocket cities speak to the applicability of futurism in practice.

With Abu Dhabi putting in motion solutions that others are only beginning to consider, they are showing how it is possible to “switch to a sustainable future.”

From blueprint to benchmark

"This region is very interesting because in many ways the future is here,"

Leonhard argues. And beyond its pocket cities, Abu Dhabi is realizing this future through its landmark Vision 2030 strategy.

By creating new areas of growth, ones that prioritize sustainability, technology, and human innovation, Vision 2030 integrates futurist principles across all aspects of daily life. The future will be shaped by the creation of new technologies - bioengineering, synthetic materials, sustainable aviation fuel, cultured meat, and autonomous transport that redefine how we live, move, and consume. These are all next-generation industries that Abu Dhabi is investing heavily in.

Abu Dhabi is increasingly recognized as a global leader in futurist transformation, exemplified by its journey to become the world’s first fully AI-native government by 2027. Its digital platform, TAMM, was recently awarded World’s Best E-Government Project at the WSIS Prizes 2025 for its AI Assistant, transforming how 3.3 million businesses, residents, citizens, and visitors access government services.

The emirate’s Transport Agency also earned the GOVTech 2025 Innovation Award for its AI-driven urban planning system, while the Environment Agency was honored for the second consecutive year at the Arabia Sustainability CSR Awards. This innovation-led diversification is delivering results, with non-oil sectors projected to contribute over 60% of GDP by 2030.

From Vision 2030 all the way down to precise urban planning, Abu Dhabi’s integrated strategy shows what’s possible when communities are shaped around the principles of people, planet, purpose, and prosperity. By constructing these cities of tomorrow, Abu Dhabi is demonstrating that futurism is much more than theory, it can be built and lived today.
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