Middle East

Stone windcatcher tower that provides natural air flow in Shiraz, Iran

Looking to the Middle East for Cooling Architecture

Cooling mechanisms built into traditional architecture offer lessons for U.S. builders as heat waves grow more intense.

August 7, 2023 - Time Magazine

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia Plans New Mega City on the Red Sea

The announcement by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to create the mega-city of NEOM would offer a Dubai-like 'free-zone' city.

November 3, 2017 - Bloomberg

Al-Azhar Park, Cairo, Egypt

Open Spaces Are Contested Spaces in the Middle East

Parks and other public open spaces continue to be squeezed out by private development and attempts to limit political dissent throughout cities in Arab countries.

July 1, 2016 - The Economist

Public Space Key in Arab Unrest

At the center of ongoing protests and uproar in the Middle East, iconic and historical public spaces hold political clout.

May 20, 2011 - Time Magazine

Cairo's New Megacities

Overcrowding and pollution in Cairo have inspired planners to push out into the desert, raising two brand-new cities out of the sand.

August 26, 2010 - The New York Times

Instant Cities in the Persian Gulf

Rami Khouri of the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs notes the unprecedented phenomenon of the "instant" cities of the Persian Gulf which, for all their wealth, lack civil societies.

September 3, 2008 - The Globe and Mail

Carpooling Goes From Crime to Decree in Dubai

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority used to slap motorists with heavy fines for ridesharing. Faced with exploding population growth and 8 million tourists a year, officials have changed their tune.

May 22, 2008 - The National, Abu Dhabi

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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

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Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.