Rapid Urbanization and Sustainability in Saudi Arabia: The Case of Dammam Metropolitan Area

Abstract

Rapid urbanization is a characterizing feature of urban change in Saudi Arabia, especially in its large metropolitan areas such as Riyadh, Dammam Metropolitan Area (DMA), Jeddah and Makkah. Such rapid urbanization has created many urban problems that contradict with the principles of sustainability.The paper argues that "Urban Sustainability" is a necessary policy in the case of DMA, and tries to define the needed approaches and actions to implement such policy in the region. In doing so, the paper starts by highlighting the rapid rate of urbanization in the Saudi Arabia in general; and in DMA in particular. Then, the paper presents an analysis of the unsustainable urbanization practices and problems in DMA. The paper then presents a literature review about sustainable urbanization approaches and requirements, focusing on developing countries. Finally, the paper recommends the necessary approaches and actions to achieve the proposed "Urban Sustainability" policy in DMA.

Comparative Analysis of Urban Development Trends of Beijing and Karachi Metropolitan Areas

“…Every day thousands of people migrate towards cities for better living [4,5]. The migration of people from rural to urban areas is widespread [6][7][8]. As a result, tremendous socio-economic and environmental impacts are rising consistently, as witnessed by the Department of Economic and Social Affairs and Population Funds of the United Nations [2,9].…”

The Child Obesity Epidemic in Saudi Arabia: A Review of the Literature

“…In addition, Saudi Arabia's household income rose by 75% from 2004 to 2013 driven by higher public sector employment and wages (McKinsey Global Institute, 2015). It is estimated that by 2050 that 90% of the Saudi Arabian population will live in cities (Abou-Korin & Al-Shihri, 2015). Increased urbanization and increased disposable income has increased access to fast food and technology, which have been related to the increased obesity epidemic in developing and developed countries (Abou-Korin & Al-Shihri, 2015).…”

“…It is estimated that by 2050 that 90% of the Saudi Arabian population will live in cities (Abou-Korin & Al-Shihri, 2015). Increased urbanization and increased disposable income has increased access to fast food and technology, which have been related to the increased obesity epidemic in developing and developed countries (Abou-Korin & Al-Shihri, 2015). Of note, in developing countries like Saudi Arabia, childhood obesity has been linked to higher socioeconomic status families and in developed countries like the United States, childhood obesity has been linked to lower socioeconomic status families (Abou-Korin & Al-Shihri, 2015).…”

Impacts of large-scale residential projects on urban sustainability in Dammam Metropolitan Area, Saudi Arabia

“…The population of DMA has increased from 0.365 million inhabitants in 1974 to 1.3 million in 1993, and to about 1.8 million in 2010 (Aboukorin & Al-Shihri, 2015). Based on the current regional growth rate of 3.0%, the population of DMA is expected to more than double in the next 25 years, reaching about 3.63 million in 2040, an increase of about 2 million people.…”