The rise of the Covid-19 pandemic stopped the world in its tracks. Roads emptied, flights were grounded, offices and schools temporarily closed their doors and keeping others at a social distance became the norm.
As the pandemic swept through cities such as Tehran, Mumbai, New York and London, the fabric of society became uncertain.
In the past, the spread of contagious diseases led to profound changes in urban planning. No other region is developing as fast as Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
'We can really start afresh with how people live'
Now we have realised we could live differently – we need to see how our cities can be redesigned to accommodate this new way of living
In the 1850s, the cholera epidemic in the US led to the advent of public health regulation, said Catherine Brinkley, assistant professor of community and regional development at the University of California in a blog post.
Similarly, governments and planners should see Covid-19 as an opportunity to stop and think about cities, said Akshay Deshpande, a senior urban designer at the Dubai office of engineering company Arup, and author of the report, A new approach to urban space in a post-pandemic Middle East.
“We can really start afresh with how people live. We took it for granted that meetings had to happen in person, and within six months everything was different,” he said.
“Now we have realised we could live differently – we need to see how our cities can be redesigned to accommodate this new way of living. Going forward we need to embrace the changes in the city model.
Reflecting on how we live now
"No other region is developing as fast as Saudi Arabia and the UAE – it’s an opportunity for them not to repeat the mistakes of the past. It’s a chance."
With 68 per cent of the world's population projected to live in urban areas by 2050, according to the UN, the shape of future cities is one of the pressing issues of our times.
So how could the cities of the Gulf change because of coronavirus?
The National takes a look at the wide-ranging implications the pandemic could have on the cities of the future.
1. Putting the brakes on the daily commute
A year on, the pandemic has irrevocably changed the behaviour of white-collar workers in urban environments.
In one survey, at least half of UAE workers said they felt happier and more productive working from home.
So even as restrictions ease, most chief executives are likely to choose a hybrid solution for their staff.
Commuting will become much more infrequent, and cities will become more localised, with cafes replacing offices, and local shops replacing hypermarkets.
We already see these 'polycentric' areas in large European metropolises such as Paris and London, where urban pockets or 'villages' serve a smaller community.
In the future, this trend could spread to smaller towns, as residents will no longer commute each day, and will require more services within walkable distances.
Areas of Saudi Arabia's new uber-city Neom are already being designed with this lifestyle in mind.
'The Line' project has been plotted around people, not roads, and the town will extend along a 170-kilometre coastal strip.
Cars and roads will be banned and, instead, communities will connect via an eco-friendly, high-speed, public transit service.
Walkability will define life, with all essential daily services, such as schools, medical clinics, leisure centres and green spaces within a five-minute walk.
The benefits of this hyper-local life are clear, said Mr Deshpande.
“It is really sustainable, you can spend more time with your family, and the more time you spend in your neighbourhood the more likely you are to support local business," he said.
2. Less commuting means fewer cars
As commuting declines, so will the need for cars, car parks and roads.
Think of the amount of space taken up by a car, 80 per cent of the time they are static – parked at home or near the workplace. Take away a million or more of those vehicles, and imagine the kerbside space and empty car parks.
These areas can be reclaimed to make cities more pleasant places to live.
Car parks could be turned into recreational parks, and we could see landscaped nature reclaim parts of the region’s cities.
Restaurants and cafes could spill over the kerbs to offer outside dining, allowing customers to congregate outdoors, a boon in a post-Covid world where social distancing is likely to continue in some form.
Residents would need cars for longer journeys and transporting bulky goods, but transport strategists predict the gradual increase in autonomous vehicles will lead to hourly rental rather than ownership.
Urban planners hope public transport will also replace many car journeys. The Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan aims to reduce the emirate's reliance on cars, by ensuring 55 per cent of the population will live within 800 metres of a main public transport station.
3. Age of the bicycle
As cars decline, the popularity of cycling is expected to soar, as citizens seek to avoid the potential health hazard of public transport during the Covid-era.
Not just pedal bikes, instead electric cycles and scooters will proliferate – a trend already witnessed on the streets of Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Short journeys in the heat of summer are even bearable when zipping along at speed, and electric vehicles release no emissions, unlike cars and buses.
City planners will need to make way for this two-wheel trend, so expect to see a proliferation of cycle lanes.
This has already started to happen in Europe, points out Mr Deshpande. City planners in Paris put in temporary bike lanes during the pandemic, and they are now a permanent fixture.
4. Affordable property prices
As the need for large corporate offices declines, communal mixed-use properties will grow in popularity.
Boardrooms will be shared, and flexible working spaces that can be expanded on ‘in the office’ days, will become the norm.
So what will happen with all that unused commercial space? It is likely to be repopulated as housing, leading to a glut of space on the market.
This should in turn make property cheaper, and shoebox-sized flats could become a thing of the past.
Furthermore, thanks to working from home, fewer people will need to live in large conurbations, so the cities of the future are likely to be smaller, and the premium on urban, centralised property will be less marked.
5. Give me space
The shape of cities in the future depends on whether the world succeeds in conquering Covid-19.
If the vaccines work and herd immunity is achieved, then normality can return. If not, our cities will need to adapt for physical distancing.
Pavements will get wider, as will corridors in newly built shopping malls and hospitals.
Doors will become automatic, and keys will disappear, as biometric data will dominate the security space.
Elevators are likely to be voice-activated, and transport and payments automated.
Movement around a city will become seamless, with all touchpoints removed to reduce the risk of infection.
On the other hand, if herd immunity is achieved, perhaps this Covid-era of distancing will pass into distant memory, and we will find comfort in crowds again.
6. Staying fit
As the pandemic pushed health to the top of everyone’s priority list, cities will be designed around keeping their residents fit and healthy.
In his report on urban space, Mr Deshpande highlighted the importance of repurposing “left-over open spaces” between and around buildings for exercising and socialising.
“As cities in the Middle East continue to develop there’s a strong case to turn some of the undeveloped plots spread across the city into parks, especially in areas which have very limited open spaces,” he said.
Even pre-Covid, governments in the Gulf had realised the importance of green space.
The centrepiece of Egypt's $58 billion New Administrative Capital is a vast urban park, double the size of New York's Central Park, with a 10km long botanical garden.
Egyptian officials say they have allocated 15 square metres of green space per inhabitant.
Kuwait's planned Silk City, built on islands around the capital, will include a national wildlife sanctuary and a "green belt of gardens and vast green spaces," according to the state news agency.
Meanwhile, the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan also describes a leafy future, with 60 per cent of Dubai comprising nature reserves and natural areas.
7. Street life
Streets should come under the spotlight, said Mr Deshpande because they “don’t have to be entirely for movement and transition – if well-planned, they can become social centres in their own right.”
Modern Middle Eastern cities have recently been designed around destinations accessed by car, like mega-malls and skyscrapers.
The metropolises of the future will be better connected with contiguous, integrated street-life.
Even the intensity of the summers in the Gulf can be countered with leafy trees and water features.
Children should be safe to cycle and scoot outside their urban homes.
“Here in Dubai for example, we drive to places so we can go for a walk,” said Mr Despande.
“We need to look at how we reconfigure our streets so our children can walk and play on them,” he said.
8. Designing buildings for well-being
As physical health has become a priority, so too will mental health.
The impact of the pandemic on our collective psyche is yet to be fully understood, but after months of partial and total lockdowns, city planners and architects of the future are likely to focus on how their designs can improve residents’ well-being.
As a consequence the design of buildings is set to change, predicted Mr Deshpande.
“Middle Eastern cities often feature mid/high rise buildings that do not have balconies or even windows that open further than a crack.
“Private and semi-private outdoor spaces such as balconies, courtyards, and podiums not only provide a breather from the confines of our internal spaces but also provide options for people to socialise with their neighbours, reinforcing a sense of community.”
“People realised they needed this when they were stuck in their homes during Covid,” he added.
9. Smarter cities
Residents might not be able to see it, but the cities of the future will be smarter.
Covid-19 showed how important technology is to keep a city running.
Dubai and Abu Dhabi’s reliable digital networks enabled thousands of residents to lock down without losing connectivity with their workplaces or schools.
In many cities residents are still required to pay for internet access. In the future this is likely to change, as governments realise the value of harnessing residents' smartphone data to introduce more efficient services.
The New Administrative Capital near Cairo has also been designed with a smart core, so residents can access services and public transport, and buy products using one card.
Satellites and CCTV will monitor the city, ensuring a rapid reaction to accidents, fires and traffic jams.
In the near future, social distancing could even be managed through geolocation on our devices, with a traffic light system designed depending on congestion in certain areas.
Watch: Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
Director: Romany Saad
Starring: Mirfat Amin, Boumi Fouad and Tariq Al Ibyari
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
'Skin'
Dir: Guy Nattiv
Starring: Jamie Bell, Danielle McDonald, Bill Camp, Vera Farmiga
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Story%20behind%20the%20UAE%20flag
%3Cp%3EThe%20UAE%20flag%20was%20first%20unveiled%20on%20December%202%2C%201971%2C%20the%20day%20the%20UAE%20was%20formed.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIt%20was%20designed%20by%20Abdullah%20Mohammed%20Al%20Maainah%2C%2019%2C%20an%20Emirati%20from%20Abu%20Dhabi.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EMr%20Al%20Maainah%20said%20in%20an%20interview%20with%20%3Cem%3EThe%20National%3C%2Fem%3E%20in%202011%20he%20chose%20the%20colours%20for%20local%20reasons.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThe%20black%20represents%20the%20oil%20riches%20that%20transformed%20the%20UAE%2C%20green%20stands%20for%20fertility%20and%20the%20red%20and%20white%20colours%20were%20drawn%20from%20those%20found%20in%20existing%20emirate%20flags.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
Results
4pm: Al Bastakiya – Listed (TB) $150,000 (Dirt) 1,900m; Winner: Panadol, Mickael Barzalona (jockey), Salem bin Ghadayer (trainer)
4.35pm: Dubai City Of Gold – Group 2 (TB) $228,000 (Turf) 2,410m; Winner: Walton Street, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
5.10pm: Mahab Al Shimaal – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: Canvassed, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
5.45pm: Burj Nahaar – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Midnight Sands, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
6.20pm: Jebel Hatta – Group 1 (TB) $260,000 (T) 1,800m; Winner: Lord Glitters, Daniel Tudhope, David O’Meara
6.55pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 – Group 1 (TB) $390,000 (D) 2,000m; Winner: Salute The Soldier, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass
7.30pm: Nad Al Sheba – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: Final Song, Frankie Dettori, Saeed bin Suroor
Find the right policy for you
Don’t wait until the week you fly to sign up for insurance – get it when you book your trip. Insurance covers you for cancellation and anything else that can go wrong before you leave.
Some insurers, such as World Nomads, allow you to book once you are travelling – but, as Mr Mohammed found out, pre-existing medical conditions are not covered.
Check your credit card before booking insurance to see if you have any travel insurance as a benefit – most UAE banks, such as Emirates NBD, First Abu Dhabi Bank and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, have cards that throw in insurance as part of their package. But read the fine print – they may only cover emergencies while you’re travelling, not cancellation before a trip.
Pre-existing medical conditions such as a heart condition, diabetes, epilepsy and even asthma may not be included as standard. Again, check the terms, exclusions and limitations of any insurance carefully.
If you want trip cancellation or curtailment, baggage loss or delay covered, you may need a higher-grade plan, says Ambareen Musa of Souqalmal.com. Decide how much coverage you need for emergency medical expenses or personal liability. Premium insurance packages give up to $1 million (Dh3.7m) in each category, Ms Musa adds.
Don’t wait for days to call your insurer if you need to make a claim. You may be required to notify them within 72 hours. Gather together all receipts, emails and reports to prove that you paid for something, that you didn’t use it and that you did not get reimbursed.
Finally, consider optional extras you may need, says Sarah Pickford of Travel Counsellors, such as a winter sports holiday. Also ensure all individuals can travel independently on that cover, she adds. And remember: “Cheap isn’t necessarily best.”
The biog
Name: Fareed Lafta
Age: 40
From: Baghdad, Iraq
Mission: Promote world peace
Favourite poet: Al Mutanabbi
Role models: His parents
Name: Peter Dicce
Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics
Favourite sport: soccer
Favourite team: Bayern Munich
Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer
Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates
Which honey takes your fancy?
Al Ghaf Honey
The Al Ghaf tree is a local desert tree which bears the harsh summers with drought and high temperatures. From the rich flowers, bees that pollinate this tree can produce delicious red colour honey in June and July each year
Sidr Honey
The Sidr tree is an evergreen tree with long and strong forked branches. The blossom from this tree is called Yabyab, which provides rich food for bees to produce honey in October and November. This honey is the most expensive, but tastiest
Samar Honey
The Samar tree trunk, leaves and blossom contains Barm which is the secret of healing. You can enjoy the best types of honey from this tree every year in May and June. It is an historical witness to the life of the Emirati nation which represents the harsh desert and mountain environments
Specs%20
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Arctic Monkeys
Tranquillity Base Hotel Casino (Domino)
Three ways to limit your social media use
Clinical psychologist, Dr Saliha Afridi at The Lighthouse Arabia suggests three easy things you can do every day to cut back on the time you spend online.
1. Put the social media app in a folder on the second or third screen of your phone so it has to remain a conscious decision to open, rather than something your fingers gravitate towards without consideration.
2. Schedule a time to use social media instead of consistently throughout the day. I recommend setting aside certain times of the day or week when you upload pictures or share information.
3. Take a mental snapshot rather than a photo on your phone. Instead of sharing it with your social world, try to absorb the moment, connect with your feeling, experience the moment with all five of your senses. You will have a memory of that moment more vividly and for far longer than if you take a picture of it.
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Results
2.30pm: Park Avenue – Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 (Dirt) 2,000m; Winner: Rb Seqondtonone, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi (jockey), Helal Al Alawi (trainer)
3.05pm: Al Furjan – Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,200m; Winner: Bosphorus, Dane O’Neill, Bhupat Seemar
3.40pm: Mina – Rated Condition (TB) Dh105,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Royal Mews, Tadhg O’Shea, Bhupat Seemar
4.15pm: Aliyah – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (T) 1,900m; Winner: Ursa Minor, Ray Dawson, Ahmad bin Harmash
4.50pm: Riviera Beach – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 2,200m; Winner: Woodditton, Saif Al Balushi, Ahmad bin Harmash
5.25pm: Riviera – Handicap (TB) Dh2,000 (T) 2,000m; Winner: Al Madhar, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
6pm: Creek Views – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Al Salt, Dane O’Neill, Erwan Charpy
MATCH INFO
World Cup qualifier
Thailand 2 (Dangda 26', Panya 51')
UAE 1 (Mabkhout 45 2')
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
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The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
