ABSTRACT
Urban design practice in the Gulf region has been witnessing in the recent decades a shift away from the regeneration of heritage districts to the creation of “new cities,” strategically conceptualized by public authorities and private investors as part of the world map and a global network that emphasizes technological advancement and economic diversification. Such cities are often rooted in market strategies, and typically built on global visions that overshadow the local realities, sometimes driven by idealistic fascinations and manifested by utopian concepts that are far removed from what the users actually need.
