Dubai has just done something no other city in the world has attempted in making longevity, wellness and advanced healthcare a regulated sovereign sector of its economy.

The establishment of the Dubai Longevity Authority is another world first for a city which has often attracted global attention for landmark initiatives, the latest of which carries far-reaching significance.

The DLA was set up to position Dubai as one of the top three cities globally for quality of life, and secure a leading position in healthy life expectancy.

Its mandate is to build a science-driven regulatory framework for longevity-related therapies and innovations, overseeing activities across the entire longevity, wellness and advanced health sector, one of the world's fastest-growing economic frontiers.

The DLA sets out to attract and nurture top talent and investment to advance medicine, wellness, and transformative life-enhancing technologies, in the belief that science must deliver tangible benefits to people's lives.

This is exactly the level of ambition and foresight that sets Dubai apart, and which has already made it one of the best places in the world in which to live and work.

The city now takes the lead in showing how urban environments should be designed around how people live and thrive, and developers have a clear role to play in making that a reality.

The communities being created today must reflect what the new authority stands for, in every decision made, from the materials chosen to the way communities are designed and the standards they are built to.

For Keturah, this carries special significance, as the brand is built on the same philosophy that where people live has a direct effect on their health.

That conviction has shaped everything we have done, and continues to drive every decision we make. Our two communities under development in Dubai were each designed from the outset around residents' health and wellbeing, and represent what we believe the standard for luxury living should be.

The Ritz-Carlton Residences at Keturah Resort, on the shores of Dubai Creek adjacent to the Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, will be the Middle East's first fully wellness-certified resort, endorsed by the International WELL Building Institute.

Creek-side mansions, apartments, a boutique hotel, and a standalone wellness centre make up a resort community built around a single purpose, giving all those who live there an environment that actively supports their health every day.

Keturah Reserve, our billion bio-living community in Mohammed Bin Rashid City's District 7, is the first development in the region to integrate wellness science into residential architecture at scale.

An AED 200 million investment in proprietary antimicrobial tiling, breathable wall systems, and zero-VOC finishes means every surface in the development actively inhibits bacteria, regulates humidity, and eliminates harmful airborne chemicals.

That outlay becomes even more meaningful now that longevity and wellness have officially become central to Dubai's identity, a move which must influence how developers think about the homes they build and the environments they create.

Those choosing our communities already know that their physical surroundings affect their health and mood, so they're looking for homes where that understanding has shaped every design decision.

We committed to wellness-focused design from the start because we believed it mattered, and the city's investment in longevity as a priority confirms that direction.

The homes we're creating today must genuinely support how people live and age, because in a city that's made this its core purpose, building anything less falls short.

The developers who truly grasp what Dubai is signalling will build communities where people actually want to spend their lives, not just places where they park their money.

The author Talal M. Al Gaddah, is CEO and Founder of the Keturah luxury brand.