The document discusses whether the lifestyle in Dubai reflects sustainable development. It defines sustainable development and examines Dubai across economic, social, and environmental factors. While Dubai has a diversified economy and tolerant society, it relies heavily on fossil fuels and expatriate workforce. To improve sustainability, the document proposes developing alternative energy sources, reducing reliance on benefits for citizens to join the workforce, expanding public transport powered by renewable energy, and providing citizenship options to long-term expatriate residents to promote a more cohesive society. The government recognizes the need for improvements and has outlined plans to make Dubai a global, pioneering hub in line with sustainable development.

1. QUESTION G: DO YOU THINK THAT THE
LIFESTYLE OF THE INHABITANTS OF YOUR
TOWN OR CITY REFLECTS BEHAVIOR THAT
IS IN LINE WITH THE CONCEPT OF
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT? IN YOUR
OPINION, WHAT SHOULD BE IMPROVED?

2. Contents
1. Definition of Sustainable Development
2. Economic Factors in Dubai
3. Social Factors in Dubai
4. Environment Factors in Dubai
5. Dubai: Is it Sustainable
6. Vision for 2021
7. Proposed Improvements in Dubai

3. Definition of Sustainable Development
“Development that meets the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own
needs.”
-The World commission on Environment and Development’s (the
Brundtland Commission) report Our common Future, 1987
Economic Social Environment
Industrial Growth Empowerment Renewable enegery
Agricultural growth Social Mobility Clean Air and Water
Efficient use of labour Cultural Tolerance Biodiversity
Economic Indicators Population Growth Rate Ecosystem Integrity
Now that we know the definition and factors of Sustainable
Development, let’s examine how Dubai fares on these parameters…

4. Economic Factors
1. Dubai’s GDP Growth rate has jumped
from negative 2.4% in 2009 to a positive 4.5%
in 2014. The positive growth was attributed
to growth in Tourism industry and Transport
and communications in this period.
2. Diversified portfolio of Industries that
contribute to Dubai’s growth – Tourism and
Transport(approx 8.5% of Dubai’s GDP), Real
estate (approx 8% of Dubai’s GDP), Exports
(Approx 6% of Dubai’s GDP) reducing
dependency on oil revenues (Gulfnews report on
Dubai ‘s GBP Breakdown)
3. Economic Free zones – complete with it’s
own judicial system – make it easier for
International outfits to make Dubai their
Centre of Excellence.
1. Emiratis receive multiple benefits from
the Government and are averse to join the
work force, creating an idle segment in the
work force. As such the Government spends
AED 35 Billion(almost 8% of it’s yearly
spending) on these benefits (IMF country report
2014)
2. Local Emiratis must own 51% of every
company setup in the city (not including free
zones) even though they do not have direct
control over the company. It gives them
additional cash flows and also restricts the
activities of the companies.
3. Almost 85% of Dubai’s workforce is Expats
and therefore very vulnerable to continuous
population migration.
Strengths Weaknesses

5. Social Factors
Strengths Weaknesses
1. Dubai is a relatively open society
compared to the other Gulf countries.
Women have freedom to work in offices and
visit places unaccompanied, should they
wish.
2. Being a city highly dependent on expat
workforce, Emiratis are very tolerant of other
nationalities and tend to promote a cohesive
environment.
3. Dubai has over 250 schools and 69
universities available for education and do
not restrict anyone from obtaining education
at a primary level.
1. While the government and Emiratis are
tolerant of other religions, there is 1 hindu
temple, 2 Sikh Gurudwaras and 15 churches
as opposed to 1,418 Mosques in 2014.
According to the 2005 Census by Ministry of
Economy, 76% of the population in the city
were Muslims and the remaining were
broken up into Christians, Hindus, Sikhs
amongst others.
2. Given the government’s stance of not
providing citizenship to its expat residents,
the long term residents suddenly find
themselves unable to live here due to
immigration laws. Consequently, the next
generation has little or no incentive to stay
in the city and show their affiliation and love
towards the city.

6. Environmental Factors
Strengths Weaknesses
1. Dubai has a very valuable natural
energy resource available to them,
Sunlight. Dubai is blessed with sunshine all
around the year. With investment into the
right system, this vastly available resource
can be converted to usable energy source
to light up many streets and homes.
2. Dubai has a growing network of public
transport including metro trains and
buses. With improved connectivity, this
provides an alternative communal
transportation system that is favourable to
the environment as well.
1. Dubai depends extensively on fossil
fuel for its requirements for electricity
and water desalination plants. On an
average, a Dubai resident consumes 8,271
kilogrammes of oil equivalent (kgoe) per
annum energy compared to 3,254 kgoe
per annum used by a UK resident.
2. Waste Management is another area
wherein Dubai is struggling. In 2010,
Dubai’s single waste treatment plant dealt
with 480,000 cubic meters, or 17 million
cubic feet, of sewage daily, nearly twice
the 260,000-cubic-meter capacity it could
properly handle.

7. Environmental Factors
Strengths Weaknesses
3. Dubai is geographically well placed in
terms of having winds blow through its
land. When the winds blow from the sea
side, its cools down the city while the
winds blown from land bring sandstorms
with them. Either ways, this wind energy
can be converted into electricity and
energy.
3. Dubai has large number of
construction happening at all times. This
has caused the air quality in Dubai to
deteriorate steadily. Automobile
emissions and sand storms in the region
and city have not helped either.
4. Dubai’s economy is heavily dependent
on tourism and this results in the usage of
electricity to light up buildings such as
Burj Khalifa and Burj Al arab as
landmarks. The light pollution has made
visibility of the skies extremely hazy.

8. Dubai: Is it Sustainable?
Given the above challenges, Dubai in its current state is not a
sustainable development. According to the first “Sustainable Cities
Index” report developed by Arcadis in 2015 , Dubai was placed 33rd
out of 50 in their ranking, measuring how cities handle their
infrastructure expansion requirements based on social, environmental
and economic needs.
Having said this, Dubai Government recognizes the importance of
Sustainable Development and has come up with various plans and
projects to promote sustainable and green environment.

9. Vision for 2021
Rulers of UAE recognize unsustainability of it’s inhabitants current
lifestyle and launched a seven year UAE National Agenda in the year
2014 leading to the UAE vision 2021.
• Empower people
• Create an inclusive and
cohesive society
• Develop a smart and
sustainable city
• Global hub
• Pioneering and excellent
government
Making UAE a desirable and
preferred place to live & work.

10. Proposed Improvements for Dubai

11. Improvement 1:
Dubai currently relies primarily on fossil fuel for its energy requirement, a depleting
source of energy.
Alternative energy sources need to be utilised to reduce dependency on fossil fuel.
1. Dubai is blessed with strong sunshine throughout the year and would need to
leverage this source of energy. First Solar Power generation project was
announced in 2013 and is currently in phase 3 of construction. Once this has
been implemented in all areas of Dubai lighting up the city for tourism will be
cost effective.
2. Dubai also experiences strong winds with dust
storms and these winds can also be converted
into energy sources.
Dubai needs to create eco friendly and sustainable
environments.
Masdar – a town built by Abu Dhabi on
renewable sources of energy

12. Improvement 2:
Creating a less volatile work force which embraces the local community to work
alongside the dominant expat population. This can be achieved with a two
pronged approach.
1. Gradually reduce and eventually remove the benefits given to the citizens,
inducing them join workforce and contribute to the economy of Dubai equally.
This will ensure that Dubai has its own citizens contributing to workforce and
reduce the reliance on purely expat workforce. This will be a step forward for a
self sustaining city.
2. Provide more specialization courses and higher education mandatory for all
citizens. This will guarantee a better workforce that is managed by experienced
locals. This will also reduce volatility of workforce at managerial level and reduce
dependency on expat workforce.

13. Improvement 3:
While there is little that can be done for sandstorms, Dubai can control air pollution
by reducing the number of vehicles on it’s roads. To achieve this, Dubai needs to
further develop its public transport system which currently covers 74.6km with 49
stations, hardly sufficient to provide a full coverage, across a city which expands over
4,114 km². In addition to this, the current metro system runs via electricity which is
fuelled by fossil fuel.
Providing a widespread network of transport for its residents, which runs on
renewable sources of energy will further assist in reducing fossil fuel consumption.
This will greatly help in decreasing the automobile emissions and reduce air
pollution.
Dubai Metro Network

14. Improvement 4:
Dubai is a land where population increases exponentially with immigration. Arguably,
Dubai is the largest city which has the maximum number of temporary residents –
people who come to the city just for work or business. These residents live here while
they work and live their dessert dream and then move back to their home countries.
Dubai government allows immigrants to only apply for residency visa. They do not
provide the option for anyone to apply for citizenship. This means that these residents
will have no long term permanent affiliation to Dubai. The spirit of cohesiveness and
belonging is not prevalent.
For Dubai to be an International Financial Hub, there needs to be equality within the
diverse cultures staying in the city. To sustain it’s current growth trend and parameters,
Dubai needs to consider embracing it’s expat residents who have effectively
contributed to Dubai’s society and economy by providing permanent rights to remain
building a more cohesive society and reducing workforce volatility.
UAE passport - a far dream

15. Thank You