Randeree, K and Ahmed, N (2019) The social imperative in sustainable urban development: The case of Masdar City in the United Arab Emirates. Smart and Sustainable Built Environment, 8(2), pp. 138-149. ISSN 2046-6099
Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine social sustainability effectiveness of eco-cities through the case of Masdar City’s strategy for urban sustainability in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Design/methodology/approach: Using a case study approach, the paper is an exploratory, qualitative analysis, which investigates the social, environmental and economic performance of Masdar City, a purported carbon-neutral, zero-waste urban development. Findings: Though Masdar City substantively contributes to innovation in sustainable urban development within environmental and economic contexts and has been effective in capital circulation in green technology markets, the impetus as a commercially driven enterprise is most evident. Successful sustainable urban development requires greater consideration for the social imperative. Practical implications: Eco-city mega-projects, such as Masdar City, have the potential to fuse achievements in innovation, technology and economic enterprise with the social imperative of functional urban habitats. Originality/value: Eco-
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Abu Dhabi; eco-city; Masdar City; sustainability; United Arab Emirates; urban development |
| Index terms: | social sustainability, effectiveness, urban development, markets, case study, sustainable urban development, methodology, qualitative analysis, United Arab Emirates, urban habitat, circulation, strategy |
| Subjects: | sustainability and resilience, economic analysis, data collection methods, research design and methodology, urban sustainability, communities and social development, management, performance management, research methods, Geography, urban design |
| Topics: | Research Practice, Geographical Context, Business Strategy, Stakeholder Management, Quality Management, Urban Studies |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
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