Dubai

Overhead view of doxens of commuters walking on sidewalk and crossing street in full sun.

Dubai Launches Free Smart Umbrella Rental to Improve Walkability

By helping residents walk comfortably in the rain or blazing sun, Dubai hopes to advance its 2040 master plan goals of sustainability and becoming a “20-minute city.”

April 1, 2024 - Dubai Career Daily

White flag with COP28 cliamte conference logo against lightly cloudy blue sky.

COP28: Beginning of the End for Fossil Fuels?

A deal came together “quickly and unexpectedly" on the final night of the nearly 2-week United Nations climate talks in Dubai, UAE, according to a series of articles by Washington Post climate reporters.

December 20, 2023 - The Washington Post

Aerial view of industrial plant with large smokestacks, surrounded by smoke with sunset sky in background.

COP28: Will Developed Nations Reduce Emissions?

Tensions between developed and developing nations surfaced over emissions and energy, with the former focused on reducing fossil fuels and the latter pointing to unrealized emissions reductions from the nations most responsible for global warming.

December 6, 2023 - The Wall Street Journal

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

Electric Cars

Dubai to Offer Free Parking and Charging to Electric Car Drivers

A city famous for its oil money is implementing generous incentives for electric cars.

September 26, 2017 - Bloomberg Technology

Passenger Drone

World's First Passenger Drone Readies for Takeoff in Dubai

This summer, commuters may have another option for moving around Dubai as a pilotless drone is prepared to shuttle passengers around the city.

February 15, 2017 - Dezeen

Sustainability or Survivability? How Environmental Crisis Follows Inequality Crisis

Asia's fast-growing cities are having disastrous impacts on both environment and civilization. A Singapore-based firm is trying to create news ways of building before it's too late.

December 8, 2016 - n+1

Hyperloop

Hyperloop Readies For BIG Debut in the UAE

A test of a "fully-operational" Hyperloop transportation system is scheduled to take place next week in the United Arab Emirates.

November 5, 2016 - ArchDaily

Inside the Plans to Build a Domed City in Dubai

Plans are underway to build the world's first domed city.

February 14, 2016 - Tech Insider

New Year's Eve Fire in Dubai Hotel Casts Doubt on Safety of Mideast High-Rises

The Address Downtown hotel, a 63-story, mixed-use high-rise very close to the world's tallest building, went up in flames on Dec. 31, raising questions about other high-rises that use the same heavy cladding material building on the exterior.

January 4, 2016 - Reuters

Will Midland Become the Dubai of Texas?

An online petition opposing a proposed 53-story, mixed-use "Energy Tower" began circulating in March. "Is this what we want to present to the world, that we're the Dubai of Texas?", asked the organizer. However, Midland is not new to tall buildings.

April 11, 2013 - The Wall Street Journal

Ironies and Oddities of History's 'Future Cities'

Brady Dale provides a list of quirky trivia (taken from the new book "A History of Future Cities") about the forward-looking creation of four mega-cities: Shanghai, Bombay, St. Petersburg and Dubai.

February 27, 2013 - Next City

Advanced Graphics Illustrate the World's Extreme Infrastructure

Mike Senese spotlights a new television program on the Science Channel that uses innovative graphics to examine how the world's cities have been built to overcome the challenges of their natural environments and serve their citizens.

February 5, 2013 - Wired

Can We Still Create Beautiful Cities?

Edwin Heathcote looks at "fumbling attempts at creating new forms of urbanity" and "new ideals of beauty" in cities like Milton Keynes, Rotterdam, and Dubai, and asks if we can still create urban beauty, or if it's even desirable in the first place.

January 14, 2013 - The Financial Times

Reviewing a Smaller Year in Taller Buildings

The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat has released its annual report on the state of skyscraper construction. Worldwide, 2012 witnessed the completion of 66 buildings taller than 200 meters, including the second tallest in the world.

January 13, 2013 - The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat Studies

Towers in the Park, 2012 Style

Julie V. Iovine laments that while walkability is the watchword of the day, architects have to design what they're hired to design -- and that often means designing iconic buildings that turn a blind eye to pedestrians.

June 24, 2012 - The Architect's Newspaper

The Burj Khalifa, 'Hummer of Skyscrapers'?

There might be something to the analogy, opines Blair Kamin, when comparing the building's star status to its contribution to the urban setting.

January 12, 2012 - Chicago Tribune

Dubai's Dirty Problem

In Dubai, the Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world. But it shares one problem will all skyscrapers in Dubai - there is no central sewage infrastructure to accommodate the waste they produce.

November 8, 2011 - Boing Boing

Dubai Creates A "Supreme Urban Planning Council" To Enact New Master Plan

The Dubai Executive Council has approved the Dubai Urban Development Master Plan 2020, and will establish a 'Supreme Urban Planning Council,' to streamline the process.

October 4, 2011 - Constuction Week

Dubai Eyes Rail Expansion

Officials in Dubai have announced plans to extend the emirate's 75-km rail system to more than 250 km.

April 12, 2011 - Emirates 24/7

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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

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