Development in desert lands

Urban planning in the Middle East has been a spectator of a transformation from physical planning and urban design to its current state in the framework of economic-social-physical planning. Urban planning in the Middle East can be studied in three periods before oil (1800-1940 AD), the emergence of oil (1940-1970 AD), and after oil (after 1972 AD).

The pre-oil era/steps toward the future

In this period, urban development under the umbrella of physical planning included the location of urban land uses, the construction of urban infrastructures, and urban design. Two demands of physical planning were seen. First, creating and protecting business networks, and second, facilitating a suitable life for capital managers, workers, and their families. To create a new structure of the urban system, investors had to do three things. First, they had to build port cities. Second, cities had to be built for merchants to live. These cities were also the locations of military barracks, capitals, or centers for the exploitation of land resources. Third, infrastructures such as roads and railways had to be built to connect the inner cities to the ports. In these cities, a kind of dual or separated city living between the upper-income class and other people of the city had appeared. In these cities, a kind of dual or separated city living between the upper-income class and other people of the city had appeared. The European-style part of the city was the result of sampling physical planning and design, low-density residential areas, and wide tree-planted streets. These parts provided a favorable living environment for their residents with urban health and comfort services.

The period of the emergence of oil / a time for the beginning of prosperity

In this period, some of the basic views of city planners were building houses for newly arrived immigrants from rural areas and bridging the gap between European urban areas and traditional urban areas. Also, urban development was oriented towards a modern method that insisted on building corporate and industrial cities with a comprehensive planning method and economic development (in lands with abundant oil resources). This new idea had a great effect on the approach of urban planning toward the trend of physical-economic solidarity. Most of such cities were located around large oil operations (including refineries). Also, new cities were built for military barracks. Most of the new cities had zoning to separate workplaces from other uses, which was incompatible with the tradition of mixing those places with other urban uses in old cities. New cities were also designed for the use of automobiles.

Post-oil period/development and new trends

In this period, due to the consideration of social and economic factors in urban planning, a common approach for new comprehensive plans is seen, and that was linking urban development plans with regional and national development strategies. Meanwhile, the nature of the planning process changed towards a very dynamic approach. This new style of planning was the use of connected projects (economic-area) of urban development by local planners and consultants. This type of planning works together with and as a substitute for comprehensive planning. The increasing number of guest workers in the oil fields created a new trend in the land's urban development. A new kind of separation between native workers and immigrants from other countries occurred and that was building separate houses for them.

The territorial dynamics of capital and goods/miracles of black gold

In the Arab lands, the rich historical heritages and interactions, abundant oil wealth, rapid urban growth, and extensive out-migration of the labor force have combined to create a #hierarchy of #territorial #cities for development and convergence. Water, soil fertility, religion, and geographical strategic location were the most effective factors in settlement patterns in Arab lands. Many of the old cities not only survived but also changed into the most important urban centers. New cities and forces of urbanization appeared in the modern era, especially after the Second World War, and the discovery of oil is a prominent factor among them. The patterns of urbanization in Arab lands have a pervasive feature of centralization. They have a territory-based interwoven system, perform functions and affect areas beyond national borders. Therefore, their development is influenced by transnational events. Thus, some Arab cities began to specialize in monetary and commercial functions. While some other cities became new bastions for employment and some other cities are prominent centers in tourism. The system of Arab urban settlements carries out large relocations without looking at their capacity, the benefits of urbanization, the advantages of location, and the ability of development. Many big cities also grow and develop in response to their special position and functions in the territorial system.

This article was compiled using the following articles:

- Amirahmadi, Hooshang. " Urban Planning in the Modern Middle East ".

- El- Shakhs, Salah. and Hooshang, Amirahmadi. 1988. " The Urban System and its Integrative Potential in the Arab Nations". From Regional Development Dialogue, Special Issue