Saudi and Emirati leaders hope smart cities will be the key to advancing their countries’ global status in smart technology and sustainability while also developing the means to diversify their economies away from oil.
It is difficult to reconcile Saudi Arabia’s vision for sustainability with The Mukaab in its current form – but it’s not too late for a course correction.
Amid a global financial slump, government reforms in the Gulf Arab states have helped stock markets achieve a remarkable boost in market capitalization.
If Dubai can accomplish an efficient post-expo transition into a sustainable and profitable city, then the first world exposition held in the Middle East could become the new international standard in legacy planning.
With more than 1,400 miles of coast overlooking two of the busiest global shipping routes and a unique geographic position connecting three continents, Saudi Arabia has placed logistics at the core of its economic diversification agenda.
Still in its early stages, Jeddah Central can build on lessons from other urban renewal projects to focus on inclusive urban development to benefit all people rather than simply a select few.
Saudi Arabia’s commitments to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060 and the new Saudi Green Initiative will drive more investments toward renewables and increasingly greater incorporation of geothermal energy.
The UAE’s participation in the biennale, and being recognized as a leading architectural force, is an important step toward engaging with sociopolitical issues and toward considering the extent to which the built environment can contribute to an equitable and sustainable future.
Sudan must determine how to attract stable and sustainable aid flows that don’t fluctuate wildly depending on shifting political winds.
With a mix of condemnation, maneuver, and strategic calculation, Gulf countries are navigating the current crisis.
Learn MoreThrough its careful examination of the forces shaping the evolution of Gulf societies and the new generation of emerging leaders, AGSIW facilitates a richer understanding of the role the countries in this key geostrategic region can be expected to play in the 21st century.
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