Overview

Early in the twenty-first century, Abu Dhabi was the quintessential boom town as the proceeds from vast oil production transformed its traditional landscape. But since 2007, the Emirate has become a showcase where explosive piecemeal expansion was superseded by visionary planning and development management – with a deliberate focus on sustainability, livability, and cultural sensitivity. Planning the Future of Abu Dhabi explains this dramatic transformation. Working with Abu Dhabi colleagues, Canadians led the founding of a progressive planning agency. Their rapid and comprehensive process resulted in state-of-the-art guidance for development, including thorough urban and regional plans, a development control system, transportation innovations, environmental stewardship, and training for handover to local management. Larry Beasley, the overall project leader, and Michael White, the key in-country lead, bring together the Canadians to tell the story of how the Emirate was repositioned as a model in the Middle East for advanced, responsible growth.

Full Product Details

Author:   Larry Beasley ,  Michael White
Publisher:   University of British Columbia Press
Imprint:   University of British Columbia Press
ISBN:  

9780774890748

ISBN 10:   0774890746
Pages:   312
Publication Date:   17 March 2026
Audience:   General/trade ,  General
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print  
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Table of Contents

Foreword / Jonathan Barnett Introduction: The Abu Dhabi Planning Challenge / Larry Beasley The Beginnings 1 Finding the Right Expertise to Address Rapid Growth / John A. Thomas 2 Being Found: Partners Come Together / Larry Beasley 3 The Governance Context in Contrast to Western Experience / Michael White and William Logan Getting Off the Ground 4 Designing the New Planning Agency / Ray Spaxman 5 The New Planning Agency Takes Off / Michael White 6 Project Management: Bringing Strangers Together / William Logan 7 The Charrette Process: Rapid Design Collaboration / Maginnis Cocivera 8 Photographs Capture the Essence of Place and Process / Marina Dodis 9 First Impressions Chart a Planning Agenda / Joe Hruda 10 Thinking Globally, Acting Locally: Reconciling Prime Principles with Local Traditions / Larry Beasley Creating the Vision for 2030 11 Abu Dhabi 2030: Planting the Stake for Contemporary Urbanism / Dan Daszkowski and Larry Beasley 12 2030 Planning Moves Across the Emirate: The Management Challenge / Desiree Drewitt 13 Al Ain 2030: Expanding the Historic City / Dan Daszkowski and Larry Beasley 14 Al Ain Planning: Elaborations and Impressions / Barbara Lindsay and Norman Hotson 15 Al Gharbia 2030: Shaping the Emirate's Western Region (Now Al Dhafra) / Dan Daszkowski and Larry Beasley 16 Al Gharbia Planning: Elaborations and Impressions / Mark Holland 17 Ariaf Al Ain 2030: Shaping the Emirate's Eastern Region / Dan Daszkowski 18 Public Engagement in an Islamic Context: The Neighbourhood Majlis / Lia Gudaitis Delivering the Vision 19 Creating a New Planning and Regulatory Framework / Michael White 20 Charting a New Course for Development Review / John Madden 21 Observations on Development Review / Jaret Lang 22 The Agenda for the Natural Environment / Neil Mallen 23 The Agenda for a Sustainable Built Environment: The Estidama Program / John Madden 24 The Agenda for Transportation and Infrastructure / Michael White 25 The Agenda for Urban Design: Elaborating the 2030 Plans / Sonny Tomic The National Capital District and Masdar City Initiatives 26 Managing the Creation of a New National Capital / Joanne Proft 27 Designing a National Capital / Dan Daszkowski 28 The Masdar City Initiative: Innovation Beyond Our Planning Program / Aaron Moguin The Handover 29 Building Capacity for the Transition / Michael White 30 The Training Agenda: Continuing Education as a Tool for Change / David Witty 31 Training Through Design: The MBZ City Charrette/ Scot Hein Strangers No More: The Canadian Legacy in Abu Dhabi 32 Reflections of the Senior Canadian Planner in Residence / Michael White 33 Insights of the Senior Canadian Special Advisor on Planning / Larry Beasley Acknowledgments; Selected Bibliography; Illustration Credits; Contributors; Index

Reviews

""This remarkable book by twenty-two members of the Abu Dhabi planning team tells you in fascinating detail how they dealt with the questions facing international consultants working in rapidly transforming societies. Their personal accounts are full of useful information for all kinds of planning, urban design, and development.""-- ""From the foreword by Jonathan Barnett, Weitzman School of Design, University of Pennsylvania""

Author Information

Larry Beasley is the retired ""distinguished practice"" professor of planning at the University of British Columbia and the founding principal of Beasley and Associates, an international planning and urban design consultancy. He is a registered professional planner and the retired co-chief planner for the City of Vancouver. Beasley, a fellow of the Canadian Institute of Planners and a member of the Order of Canada, has also received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. He is the author of Vancouverism and, with Jonathan Barnett, of Ecodesign for Cities and Suburbs. Michael White is the associate vice-president of Campus and Community Planning at the University of British Columbia. He is an urban planning professional with decades of experience in North America, the Middle East, and Asia. He specializes in strategic planning, major project implementation, transportation planning, partnership agreements, and community engagement. Contributors: Maginnis Cocivera, Dan Daszkowski, Marina Dodis, Desiree Drewitt, Lia Gudaitis, Scot Hein, Mark Holland, Norman Hotson, Joe Hruda, Jaret Lang, Barbara Lindsay, William Logan, John Madden, Neil Mallen, Aaron Moguin, Joanne Proft, Ray Spaxman, John Thomas, Sonny Tomic, David Witty

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