A Smart Umbrella Rental Service Just Launched in Dubai

Plenty of cities let you rent bikes. Lots of cities let you rent scooters. But in a new, innovative program, Dubai is helping residents get around by letting them rent a more unconventional item – umbrellas.

Dubai residents can use their Nol card to rent an umbrella for free from the Al Ghubaiba Bus and Metro Station. If the program is successful, such stations could be found popping open around the city.

This program is a collaboration between the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and UmbraCity, a Canadian-based smart umbrella company. The purpose of this initiative is to encourage people to embrace walking in Dubai regardless of sun or rain. By improving the city’s walkability, the RTA is taking a step towards the lofty goal of making Dubai a ‘20-minute city’, in which residents can access all of their needs within a 20 minute walk or bike ride. This goal, in turn, is one of many on the path to making Dubai the world’s best city for living, as outlined in the Dubai 2040 Master Plan.