SUSTAINABLE URBANISATION IN DESERT CITIES: CASE STUDY RIYADH CITY

Abstract Sustainable urbanisation (SU) has become a major preoccupation for many cities worldwide in light of projections that the urban population will keep increasing by 2050 to 68 percent of the world’s total population as per UNDESA’s statistics in 2014. Riyadh has transformed into one of the largest cities in the Gulf region. The General Authority on Statistics estimates that by 2030 the city’s population will increase to 10 million from the current 7 million. Its urbanisation and rapid increase in population has created new environmental, social, physical, and economic challenges for urban planners who need new tools and mechanism to ensure sustainable development and growth of the city and its region. The objective of this research is to identify the factors that inhibit or enhance sustainable urbanisation in Riyadh and propose a Sustainable Urbanisation (SU) framework that can guide future development of the city. Data was collected through in-depth interviews with Riyadh residents, urban planning and municipality officials and academics/researchers. Content analysis was conducted to investigate the inhibiting and enhancing factors of SU in Riyadh and establish the state of urbanisation in Riyadh. The issues/factors inhibiting sustainable urbanisation include poor coordination among urban planners; low public awareness; outdated urban planning policies and legislation; environmental degradation (e.g. decreased air quality and poor waste management); rapid population growth; lack of affordable housing; and social inequality. Factors that can enhance SU include international migration, political will, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and revenues from oil exports. These findings are empirical evidence that can guide stakeholders on the strategies to overcome challenges to and opportunities for sustainable urbanisation. The study proposes reforms to the urban planning structure, participatory governance, exploitation of ICT, empowerment of SMEs, use of renewable energies, public-private partnerships (PPPs) and use of smart building technologies to harness the opportunities presented by urbanisation. A SU framework – to guide sustainable development in Riyadh and Saudi Arabia – was developed based on study findings. Key stakeholders in implementing this proposed SU framework include urban planning officials, Riyadh residents, private sector and the academia.