The Middle East is at a critical juncture in its development. Rapid urbanisation has brought prosperity and modernisation but also significant challenges, particularly in terms of traffic congestion and environmental impact. Urban mobility remains a critical element of city life as it impacts its residents, the environment, and affects the value of real estate.
Whilst the idea of compact neighbourhoods is hardly new, the 20-minute city concept offers one, forward-thinking, solution to these issues. By designing cities where residents can access work, education, healthcare, and leisure within a 20-minute walk from any point in the neighborhood, we can significantly reduce our reliance on cars, thus alleviating traffic congestion and cutting down carbon emissions. Other solutions present as critical for improving urban mobility as well. Enhanced public transport systems and last-mile mobility services play a vital role in creating a seamless urban experience. Efficient and reliable public transport options, such as buses, trams, and metro systems, reduce the dependence on private vehicles. Investment in public transport infrastructure ensures that cities can accommodate growing populations without exacerbating traffic congestion.
The UAE has been at the forefront of innovative urban planning. In a notable recent development, The Executive Council, chaired by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, convened at the Arabian Travel Market this month, taking place at the World Trade Centre, to approve a new traffic plan centered on remote working. The plan aims to ease congestion and improve traffic flow on the roads, showcasing Dubai’s proactive approach to urban mobility challenges.
Expo City in Dubai stands as an existing example of the 20-minute city concept in action. This development was designed with sustainability and accessibility at its core. Expo City is a microcosm of what urban living can and should be in the Middle East. It boasts a mix of residential, commercial, and leisure spaces all within a 20-minute walkable distance. The infrastructure supports cycling and walking, with green spaces and pedestrian-friendly pathways integrated throughout the development. This design reduces the need for car travel, thereby decreasing traffic congestion and contributing to lower carbon emissions, so tackling, head on, immediate urban mobility constraints.
Another notable example is Msheireb Downtown Doha in Qatar. As the world’s first sustainable downtown regeneration project, it combines modern construction techniques with cultural and contextual precedents, focusing on the human experience and comfort in an arid climate. This meticulously planned area ensures easy access to essential services, promotes pedestrian-friendly spaces with wide sidewalks and shaded walkways and includes efficient public transport links. The development unites a sense of community with retail, offices, a mosque, hotels, and both low-rise and high-rise residential buildings, significantly enhancing residents’ quality of life, while reducing environmental impact by encouraging walking and public transport use over private cars.
Within the Middle East, authorities are actively embracing the walkable city approach with regards to existing urban areas and those that have yet to be built. The Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan recognises the significance of time in people’s lives and acknowledges that effectively managing and utilising time for commuting and meeting basic needs is a crucial pillar in enhancing the quality of life. Future projects like these are highlighting government support in urban mobility.
However, transitioning to a 20-minute city model is not without its challenges. In basic terms, our cities are not designed for cellular neighbourhood structures, and this means that to a degree, we will always need to move from one part of the city to another. The advancement of 20-minute cities requires significant investment in infrastructure and a paradigm shift in urban planning. Policymakers and urban planners must prioritise mixed-use developments that integrate residential, commercial, and recreational spaces. There needs to be a concerted effort to enhance public transport systems and make walking and cycling more attractive and thermally comfortable options. Additionally, community engagement is crucial to ensure that developments meet the needs of residents and foster a sense of ownership and pride in their neighborhoods.
Last-mile mobility services, such as bike-sharing programs, e-scooters, and on-demand shuttle services, complement public transport by providing convenient options for the final leg of a journey. These services bridge the gap between public transport stations and residents’ homes or workplaces, making it easier for people to choose sustainable modes of transport. While in cities like Dubai and Doha, integrating these last-mile solutions with existing public transport networks has been effective within their 20-minute cities, enabling these links on a city-wide scale will be crucial for achieving a truly connected and efficient urban mobility system.
Looking beyond isolated neighbourhoods, society will always have the need to travel further than their immediate surroundings. To this end we must also consider interlinking options between neighbourhoods, as well as alternatives to longer distance travel requirements. New modes of transport such as last mile, electric, autonomous, EVTOL Drones are being discussed in a more tangible way, with visible progress being made. This is a critical marker that it’s not only on urban planners to facilitate urban mobility improvements but the transport industry and government support as well.
As we look to the future, with continued investment and a collaborative approach to urban planning, urban planners in the region will need to use innovative design strategies to create even tighter neighborhoods, while forecasting future societal habitation trends, as far as ten years down the line, given the average project timeline. The region is going to quickly push to the 20-minute city, meaning master planners need to feature smart mobility solutions that encourage sustainable and flexible means of movement, allowing people to travel safely and conveniently between their office and home, to airports and around the city.
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Source: ME Construction News
