Dubai’s Urban Identity – A Critical Analysis On How Socio-Economic Elements Influence and Shape It
Date
2021-12-22
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Abstract
Architectural and urban developments are the most visible forms of the built environment and resonates deeply on the quality of peoples’ lives. The application of these developments, both intellectually and materially, is being lost in a wave of western-inspired designs and structures, depriving its citizens of their rich cultural legacies, history and traditions. Amidst these modernizing developments, the residents of Dubai have very little to no engagement with these creations and are very selective with what they identify with within the larger context of their society.
The overall aim of this doctoral study is to explore how Dubai’s urban identity is shaped within a socio-economic context. It illustrates the factors that have influenced Dubai’s urban development and also provides insight into the challenges faced by Dubai’s residents in connecting with their built environment. The case study approach employs a critical and multidisciplinary model based on archival research, literature review in four study areas – architecture and identity; Islam and the city; urbanism and placemaking; community development – and semi-structured interviews, that together contribute to the study of Dubai’s urban landscape. This approach is useful in analyzing Dubai’s phenomenal development as it offers an alternative to how mainstream literature on Dubai has always been addressed, mainly from a single lens of neoliberalism, form of governance and or the treatment of its migrant workers. The research study identifies three emergent themes – globalization, identity and change – in how Dubai’s urban identity is shaped. The research study concludes by acknowledging the complexity that is Dubai’s urban landscape and proposes further areas of study that would address how Dubai moves forward in its urban planning.
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Citation
bin Zayyad, S. (2022). Dubai's Urban Identity - A Critical Analysis On How Socio-Economic Elements Influence and Shape It (Doctoral thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.)