With up to 75 per cent of the Arab population expected to be living in urban areas by 2050,1 urban policies are critical to the well-being of hundreds of millions of people. Located largely in coastal areas and
often challenged by outdated infrastructure, cities in the region are strongly exposed to climate change-related disasters. Domestic migration from rural to urban areas remains the primary source of urbanization, but Arab cities are also the world’s leading destination for displaced persons.2
This situation exacerbates problems related to informal employment, substandard housing, the overexploitation of natural resources and the depletion of environmental quality.
While national urban policies3 have been launched and disaster preparedness has progressed, vast policy gaps remain on affordable housing, access to basic services and public open spaces, and waste management,
to name a few. Arab countries face unsustainable patterns of urban sprawl and obstacles to the achievement of SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) such as limited decentralization, environmental vulnerability and the destabilizing impacts of political turmoil and conflicts.
Priorities include affordable housing, access to basic services for all, climate change adaptation, better air quality, improved waste management, sustainable transportation, more green and public spaces, and protection of cultural and natural heritage.
This chapter covers SDG 11 policy areas related to informal settlements, slums and affordable housing, inclusivity and transport, resilience to disasters and urban governance.
The following policy messages aim to address the challenges the Arab region faces from rapid urbanization, environmental stressors in cities, and the need for social and political transformations in urban settings.
Urban policies in the Arab region continue to focus primarily on providing adequate housing and basic services. The policy framework has yet to further integrate environmental and disaster risk management (including early warning systems); a balanced approach to territorial development, such as between urban and rural areas and among various neighbourhoods within cities; and opportunities for fostering economic development at the local level in line with the Arab Strategy for Housing and Sustainable Urban Development 2030.
Providing access to adequate and affordable housing and basic services for all remains the primary focus of urban policies in most countries
of the region.8 National programmes have upgraded informal settlements and eliminated slums, including through resettlements and social housing operations targeting the most vulnerable communities. Assessments of social housing programmes reveal recurring issues, however, such as low quality, a loss of economic opportunities and social spaces due to relocation, a lack of community-based approaches and low-cost construction neglecting green standards. In addition, home ownership and access to formal services (such as water and electricity) result in additional costs that are difficult to meet from the budgets of households benefiting from social housing projects, even with public subsidies. The rising cost of land in urban areas makes the development of affordable housing even more challenging. All these issues can exacerbate social exclusion.
Urban policies are progressively shifting from sectoral social housing programmes to more integrated approaches and broader economic development strategies.9 The adoption of national urban policies illustrates an evolution in managing urbanization, which is no longer seen as a disruptive phenomenon with negative externalities but as an opportunity to foster economic development, including through economic diversification and job creation. Only four countries of the region have explicitly formulated a national urban policy, however; most are middle-income countries. Saudi Arabia is the only Gulf Cooperation Council country with a national urban policy. Ten countries have issued a national report on the implementation of the New Urban Agenda,10 including three Gulf Cooperation Council countries, six middle-income countries and one country in conflict (see Table 11.1). These countries have committed to integrating the different pillars of the New Urban Agenda into policymaking, planning, budgeting and governance. They have also agreed to adopt gender-sensitive climate change policies and programmes.| Country | National urban policy | New Urban Agenda - national report |
|---|---|---|
| Algeria | 2010 | 2021 |
| Bahrain | No explicit national urban policy | 2021 |
| Comoros | No explicit national urban policy | No national report |
| Djibouti | No explicit national urban policy | No national report |
| Egypt | 2023 | 2022 |
| Iraq | Feasibility phase started in 2023 | In progress |
| Jordan | 2023 | 2022 |
| Kuwait | No explicit national urban policy | 2022 |
| Lebanon | Formulation phase | 2022 |
| Libya | No explicit national urban policy | No national report |
| Mauritania | No explicit national urban policy | No national report |
| Morocco | No explicit national urban policy | 2022 |
| Oman | No explicit national urban policy | No national report |
| Qatar | No explicit national urban policy | No national report |
| Saudi Arabia | 2019 | 2023 |
| Somalia | Diagnosis phase | No national report |
| State of Palestine | 2023 | 2021 |
| Sudan | Diagnostic study completed in 2021 | No national report |
| Syrian Arab Republic | Diagnosis phase | No national report |
| Tunisia | Formulation phase (approved by the National Committee in 2022 but not yet endorsed by the Government) | 2021 |
| United Arab Emirates | No explicit national urban policy | No national report |
| Yemen | Feasibility phase | No national report |
Urban environmental issues are often covered by sectoral approaches instead of being addressed in integrated urban policies. Capacity and investment in this domain remain low. Rarely featuring in national urban policies, climate change adaptation is addressed through national sectoral strategies by specialized central bodies or in specific development programmes. For instance, Egypt formulated national strategies on climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction and the environmental management of vulnerable areas, such as coastal zones. Yet measures and actions in these areas are not integrated in the national urban policy. National urban policies
and national adaptation programmes have yet to be instrumentally linked to maximize impact.
While cities have major infrastructure projects, mobility strategies remain largely car-oriented, limiting the transformative potential of urban mobility. The focus remains on physical infrastructure (roads, mass transportation systems), neglecting neighbourhood designs that can reduce traffic by creating a physical environment for walking and cycling. Although public-private partnerships have proven efficient in ensuring better service levels, public transport in most Arab cities continues to face challenges. The gap is often filled by informal operators, a sign of the failure
to deliver a more holistic and integrated approach
to transport at the community level. Planning and investments are not sufficient to enhance public transportation and to encourage people to shift from private vehicles to public transport. Integrated urban transport systems to improve “last mile connectivity”, where the last mile to and from public transportation hubs allows commuters to transition between modes of transportation, are largely absent. This undermines the shift from private vehicles to more sustainable modes of transport. In the same vein, many Arab cities do not have safe and accessible walking and cycling infrastructure, hindering environmentally friendly mobility. A lack of “pedestrianization” results in traffic congestion and poor safety.
Sustainable smart cities are emerging in the region: 14 out of 22 countries have related initiatives (see the sections on the Gulf Cooperation Council countries
and middle-income countries). Smart digital solutions are enhancing urban safety, increasing traffic safety, unlocking the potential of real-time data in predicting and preventing crime and terrorism, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and addressing violence against women and girls in public spaces. In the rapidly evolving
urban landscapes of the Arab region, the integration
of emerging technologies and the adoption of people-centred smart city approaches are crucial to achieve sustainability. Leveraging digital technologies, AI and big data analytics, people-centred smart cities could enhance the efficiency of urban services and infrastructure and build urban resilience. Digital platforms could facilitate citizen engagement and participatory governance, allowing more transparent and inclusive decision-making. People-centred smart cities in the Arab region should be seen with a focus on aligning technological innovations with the cultural, economic and social needs of the population, ensuring that technology enhances the quality of life for all residents.
The decentralization process is unfinished in most countries of the region. Decentralization has been pursued to enhance local governance, service delivery and participation in decision-making, especially after the 2011 uprisings. Yet the experiences and outcomes of decentralization vary significantly. Overall, since they depend on transfers from the central government, local governments and authorities still have weak capacities for mobilizing local resources. Central government actors and national public agencies retain major roles in urban governance, with limited room for manoeuvre by local authorities.
Housing policies target nationals, using a variety of financing mechanisms to support different income levels. Migrant workers, who form a significant share of the populations in these countries, are not covered by these policies. Their accommodation falls under the purview of private employers. National urban policies and disaster risk reduction strategies do not consider migrants.
In 2022, Bahrain completed a royal directive issued
in December 2013 to provide 40,000 housing units to citizens through constructing five new cities.14 These were financed through the Gulf Cooperation Council Development Programme and built in partnership with the private sector. Since its population is mainly in the Kuwait Metropolitan Area, which represents 8 per cent of national land, Kuwait has launched policies to geographically redistribute the rapidly growing population in new cities. Oman has addressed growing demand for housing, including among low-income households, through low-interest loans and subsidized housing units in new settlements.15 In Saudi Arabia, Vision 2030 includes the Housing Programme 2030, which aims to increase Saudi home ownership to 70 per cent by the end of 2030. The Sakani programme facilitates homeownership among Saudi citizens, and the Jood Eskan initiative enables charitable donations to households in need of housing support.16 In the United Arab Emirates, the Sheikh Zayed Housing Programme provides financial assistance to Emirati households to build, purchase or renovate their homes, including grants for low-income families and those with special needs. Being strongly urbanized,17 the Gulf Cooperation Council countries have integrated their urban
policies in national planning instruments, focusing
on the diversification of the economy, and using oil wealth to develop a knowledge-based economy in specialized new towns. Climate and environmental concerns are being embedded in urban policies, including through the creation of green spaces and increased energy efficiency.
Bahrain has announced that the construction of new towns will be green and smart, using environmentally friendly materials, providing green areas and planting trees along streets. The Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan (United Arab Emirates) encourages public transportation and
soft mobility, housing projects, green spaces and recreational facilities.18 Furthermore, Dubai has
made the “smart city” an essential component of its urban strategy. In Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), a series of megaprojects include a 135 kilometre-long green urban corridor based on converting a utility highway into a green urban boulevard (the Sport Boulevard).19 The “Green KSA” and “Green Riyadh” environmental initiatives include the creation of green spaces, pedestrian walkways and recreational areas.20Gulf Cooperation Council countries have made progress in addressing jointly climate change and urban issues. Oman has the National Strategy for Adaptation and Mitigation to Climate Change 2020–2040. In the United Arab Emirates, the Green Agenda 2015–2030 is an implementation framework for the United Arab Emirates Green Growth Strategy, complemented by the National Climate Change Plan 2017–2050, which is expected to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Bahrain, which aims to have net-zero emissions by 2060, has established the Joint National Committee on Climate Change chaired by the Supreme Council for the Environment. Kuwait has issued the National Adaptation Plan 2019–2030. Qatar is preparing a climate change strategy focused on urban planning and development.21Gulf Cooperation Council countries have made significant investments in high-tech transportation solutions. As impressive as public transportation systems are, however, the networks do not cover entire cities. A heavy reliance on private vehicles remains due to cultural and behavioural preferences.
High-tech transportation solutions include the Dubai Metro (United Arab Emirates), the longest driverless rail system and one of the most advanced metro networks worldwide; the Doha Metro, an integral component of the larger Qatar rail network and one of the fastest driverless trains in the world; and
the automated Bus Rapid Transit system under the smart mobility programme in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates). The road infrastructure in Bahrain has witnessed continued upgrades, including safe paths for bicycles and sidewalks, afforestation and beautification, and traffic safety requirements. Under its Urban Transit Network Project, Bahrain recently launched the construction of a 100-kilometre light rail network and four fully automated and driverless metro lines. The King Abdulaziz Project for Riyadh Public Transport (Saudi Arabia) aims to address traffic congestion by reducing high dependence on private cars. It includes a 176-kilometre metro network, comprising 6 metro lines and 85 stations, and connecting residential, commercial and recreational areas, hospitals and universities. This is in addition to 24 Bus Rapid Transit lines (1,200 kilometres) and 25 park-and-ride locations as connectivity points in a multi-modal transportation system.22 The centralization of urban affairs is still strong. Local governments and municipalities depend on oil revenue transfers from central governments, which approve local initiatives prior to implementation. Some major cities have relative autonomy in urban planning, such as Medina and Mecca (Saudi Arabia). The impact of the delegation of authority has yet to be fully assessed.Arab middle-income countries contend with unplanned urbanization fed by migration from rural areas, inadequate urban planning, socioeconomic disparities and the proliferation of illegal settlements. In the Mashreq countries,23 these issues are exacerbated by the flow of refugees from conflict-affected countries. Middle-income countries have implemented various national programmes to upgrade informal settlements and enhance access to basic services. They have invested in mass transport systems and the creation of new towns. But progress towards decentralized decision-making is unfinished.
In the Maghreb,24 urban policies seek to redirect urban growth and economic opportunities from coastal agglomerations to secondary cities and new towns.
This follows a generation of social housing programmes backed by strong political commitment and operations carried out by national agencies collaborating with local authorities and the private sector. The housing policies of countries in North Africa are among the best practices in tackling a challenge faced by the entire Arab region. In addition to government-built social housing units, Morocco and Tunisia have increasingly incorporated private sector participation, developing mixed models and enhanced mechanisms for housing finance, and creating more opportunities for low-income housing. Their achievements in the rehabilitation of historical cities (medinas) have garnered international recognition.
In the Mashreq, flows of refugees combined with rural migration put enormous pressure on cities to provide adequate shelter. Urban policy has focused on densification, the upgrading of informal settlements and the redirection of urban growth along transport corridors. Countries adopt varied approaches to social housing, with prominent State-provided housing in Egypt25 and Jordan.26 Lebanon primarily has rent controls. Persistent informal housing points to prevailing inadequacy in housing policies.
In Jordan and Lebanon, most refugees live in shelters that are overcrowded, do not meet humanitarian standards and/or risk collapse.27 In 2017, up to
43 per cent of refugee households in Lebanon
had either borrowed money to pay rent or were unable to pay it.28 Initially intended for temporary accommodation, many refugee camps have become permanent neighborhoods, with high rates of slum conditions. Migrant households experience greater difficulties than national counterparts in accessing housing, struggling with high rents and unattainable guarantees required to obtain a lease.29 In 2022, Amman’s Voluntary Local Review30 (Jordan) became the first in the Arab region. It points out major challenges related to housing vacancy, affordability and informality. The refugee crisis has further stressed existing housing infrastructure. Amman has explored various strategies for fostering urban development, such as reducing the housing vacancy rate to 8
per cent by providing assurances to property owners. This encourages bringing large shares of unoccupied apartments into the rental market instead of constructing new residences on the city’s periphery. Approximately 75 per cent of the city’s anticipated population growth could be accommodated in existing vacant homes by 2030, while urban sprawl and the depletion of natural environments would be better contained. Lebanon faces housing challenges due to a highly liberalized real estate market, where urban housing prices surge and become unaffordable for middle- and low-income households. The oversupply of high-income housing exacerbates the issue. The influx of displaced Syrians intensifies pressure on urban housing markets, forcing refugees, migrants and the urban poor into informal and substandard settlements on city outskirts or in overcrowded neighbourhoods. This results in precarious tenures, deteriorating living conditions and inflated prices, creating a complex housing crisis.31 In middle-income countries, the diversification of the economy is an innovative component of national urban policies, including through investment in new towns and sustainable smart cities. Elements comprise the construction of new cities with a “specialized” economic focus and policies to steer urban growth away from scarce agricultural lands as well as primary cities. Attempts to redirect urbanization have still not alleviated pressures in major cities (as in Jordan) or prevented further urban encroachment on agricultural land (as in Egypt).32
In Algeria, five new towns are under construction and are included in the 2030 National Urban Planning Scheme. In the region of Algiers, the Sidi Abdallah Technopark is expected to accommodate an industrial park and firms specialized in advanced technologies. In Egypt, the national urban policy balances the preservation of scarce agricultural land with the need to broaden the country’s economic base, including through job creation in new urban settlements.
The construction of 22 “fourth generation cities” is intended to satisfy the growing need for housing
and employment. In addition, the Green and Smart Cities initiative pursues a holistic approach to urban planning.33 With urbanization expanding on desert land, however, total inhabited land is expected to increase.
Jordan has developed measures for in-fill development, using vacant land to achieve more compact urban development. In Morocco, the “Politique de la Ville” aims to strengthen the role of cities as socioeconomic development poles and employment generators. Casablanca was the first African city to join
the network of 25 smart cities selected by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
in the United States, enabling it to accelerate its digital transformation. The Casablanca Smart City Initiative includes the digitalization of services, video-assisted driving in trams, the monitoring of electricity consumption in new buildings and carpool sharing.
Tunisia has promoted the creation of technopoles in
secondary cities. The Smart Africa start-up investment
fund contributed to the Smart Tunisia Initiative, which
complements the Digital Tunisia 2020 strategy.
Public investments in multi-modal transport systems, including mass transportation, are notable
in middle-income country capitals and major cities. Nevertheless, some mass transportation projects can be interpreted as showcasing modern and forward-looking agglomerations and city centres, potentially neglecting the essential needs of residents. In that context, informal transportation networks, such as shared taxis, remain prevalent in cities in the Maghreb and Mashreq, especially to link slums and informal settlements with other part of urban areas. This is due to a lack of transport to meet demand in underprivileged neighbourhoods.34
As part of the 2035 Urban Development Master Plan for Algiers (Algeria), considerable efforts aim at providing eco-friendly public transport solutions such as trams and metros, and park-and-ride facilities. The completion of subway and tramway infrastructure in the capital has been followed by ongoing projects in other large cities. Under the Greater Cairo Urban Transport Master
Plan (Egypt), an integrated urban transport system includes a metro, suburban railways and expressways, complemented by a Bus Rapid Transit project and the Cairo Monorail with two automated lines.35 The national urban policy in Jordan promotes urban connectedness and multi-modal transportation, including a Bus Rapid Transit system in Amman. The Long-Term National Transport Strategy and Action Plan 2014–2030 introduces zero-emission electric vehicles and 3,000 charging stations powered by renewable energy. The Transport and Mobility Master Plan for Amman is expected to increase the modal share of public transport trips to 40 per cent by 2025. Lebanon is revisiting the Master Plan of the Beirut Port towards a comprehensive vision of its interaction with the hinterland, considering the relative advantages of all Lebanese ports together and the need for an integrated strategy for the development of port cities. In Morocco, 10 years after its inauguration, the Rabat-Salé tramway complements bus and taxi networks, a modal shift that contributes indirectly to the protection of the environment. By 2024, Casablanca, where two tramway lines are already operating, will also benefit from an exclusive right-of-way public transport network, offering an environmentally friendly alternative to the private car. In Tunisia, the Five-Year Strategic Development Plan for Transport seeks to enhance public transportation and advance city centre decongestion in Tunis. More prominent projects include the Trans-Maghreb rail link to connect all regions of the country with the Algerian and Libyan borders. Ongoing major projects comprise a new airport by 2030, the Tunis-Carthage international airport expansion, Rapid Rail Tunis, an intercity rail system and five express railway lines.
Decentralization reforms in the middle-income countries have led to a partial devolution of urban management responsibilities to the local level
but decentralization remains incomplete. Without commensurate fiscal decentralization, local governments and authorities cannot raise their own resources, making them dependent on central transfers.
In Jordan, the new Local Administration Law should expand the autonomy of local administrations and deepen citizen participation in decision-making. In Lebanon, unions of municipalities represent a platform for cooperation on common geographic
or other aspects, such as solid waste management, environmental protection, water pollution, and education and health facilities. The unions have a legal power to elaborate their own development plans but do not have full autonomy in decision-making. Morocco has undertaken many decentralization reforms since its independence in 1956. The 2011 Constitution advanced a regionalization model supported by organic laws in 2015 that define the competencies
of regional, provincial and municipal authorities. As a result, municipalities work with regional and national governments, businesses, civil society organizations and other public and private stakeholders to support the delivery of urban infrastructure and services.Tunisia created a fund for supporting solidarity among local communities, allocating more fiscal resources to municipalities and financing local development projects. Plans are emerging for specific cities to provide adequate shelter and basic services. Some cities have shown resilience through forward-thinking reconstruction initiatives. Political instability often diverts resources
from social housing initiatives and long-term planning, however. Financial constraints, such as high levels of public debt, limit government abilities to invest in housing. In countries with protracted conflicts, such as the Syrian Arab Republic, the toll of destruction is heavy. Most of the original population displaced from Syrian cities has returned and is living in damaged houses without any alternatives. Refugee communities in the cities of Jordan and Lebanon add pressure on municipalities and local governments.
In Lebanon, which hosts the largest number of refugees per capita in the world and is in the midst of a major political and socioeconomic crisis, tensions between host communities and displaced persons simmer over access to economic and natural resources.
The Comoros is preparing a cadastral plan in Moroni to ensure land tenure for citizens and better provide urban services. After destruction caused by Cyclone Kenneth in 2019, reconstruction efforts have taken place but effective national frameworks on affordable and climate-resilient housing are still missing. In Iraq, the National Housing Policy outlines a roadmap for expanding housing provision across the country. It emphasizes the creation of an enabling environment, including through partnership with the private sector. In Mauritania, as part of vast social housing programmes, plots of land are provided to households with official deeds of allocation that are not transferable to avoid resale, speculation and the return of beneficiary populations to other or new precarious areas.36 In Palestine, as is common in middle-income countries in the Mashreq, a comprehensive protection plan seeks to safeguard sensitive agricultural lands and redirect spatial development away from them. The Spatial Development Strategic Framework for Jerusalem Governorate is implementing an agreed housing programme for youth and low-income families until 2030.37In the Sudan, after unsuccessful attempts at slum eradication, Khartoum adopted a “sites and services” approach to slum upgrading, providing land plots
with basic services for a low price, title deeds and deregulated building standards. The policy had negative effects, however, prompting migration, including
of internally displaced persons, to the capital and contributing to extensive urban sprawl. The Government now promotes denser forms of housing and emphasizes the importance of connectedness through road infrastructure investments to create efficient links between urban and rural areas.38In the Syrian Arab Republic, multisectoral recovery plans have been developed for the cities of Homs, Aleppo, Dar’a and Deir-Ezzor, in addition to neighbourhood recovery plans in more than 90 locations. These link short-term humanitarian activities with resilience-based activities.39
Urban policies are affected by tensions and conflicts that create humanitarian emergencies and security issues. Because of these emergencies, economic development is not yet sufficiently targeted in responses to urbanization challenges. For instance, war and humanitarian crisis in Yemen have prevented the elaboration of urban policies. Unrest in Libya stalled implementation of urban policies. The crisis in the Syrian Arab Republic halted some exemplary progress in developing an integrated approach to urban planning. The Urban Recovery Framework has become a key instrument in enhancing responses to urban crises; clarifying institutional arrangements, policies and plans; and guiding coordination mechanisms and financing instruments needed in urban recovery interventions.40 Overall, however, linking urban resilience, humanitarian interventions and social inclusion has not yet taken off as a policy approach in conflict settings, either among national and local governments or donors.
Efforts to develop disaster risk management strategies are still limited. Climate change adaptation, disaster preparedness and post-conflict reconstruction call for major investments in infrastructure and demand the forward-looking reconceptualization of urban planning, but insufficient progress has been made so far. Some positive developments include those in Kaéd (Mauritania), where the City Resilience Action Planning Tool is implemented
to assess and enhance resilience to natural disasters
and climate change. In the Comoros, City Resilience Frameworks for Action have been prepared for four cities.
Conflict or post-conflict countries with a federal system can have much more decentralized administration, as in Iraq and the Sudan. The federal structure of the Sudan has delegated the responsibility for urban policy to provincial governments. The withdrawal of the national government from urban policy, however, can undermine
a comprehensive vision for urban development and limit coordination among territories and administrative levels.41 The most decentralized policy in the Arab region is found in Area A in the West Bank of the State of Palestine, where elected local councils can raise their own revenues and are responsible for urban planning and provision
of basic services.42 The National Development Plan
(2021–2023) prioritizes decentralization in the provision of public services but commitments to decentralization have not fully materialized due to many factors, including geopolitical complexities, weak political will and the economic crisis.43
 |
Women and girls suffer from heightened mobility limitations due to instability, conflict and/or the lack of safe transport and public spaces, impacting their access to employment and participation
in public life. In addition, cultural and social norms, prevailing customary laws and barriers to accessing information inhibit women’s exercise of property and land ownership rights.
Despite the lack of gender-sensitive planning at the local level, some progress is evident in mainstreaming gender considerations in urban policies. |
Egypt updated conditions to access social housing units to include female-headed households.
a
Jordan launched the National Framework for Gender-Sensitive Public Transport as well as the Gender Action Plan for Equitable Mobility. Legislation in Palestine recognizes women’s unrestricted right to ownership and does not discriminate in land or property registration or housing construction, although the prevalent patriarchal culture prevents the adoption of legislation on women’s inheritance. b |
|---|---|---|
 |
The poor and less well-off, including informal workers and migrant workers who reside mostly in urban areas, are squeezed out of housing markets by prohibitive land and property prices. This forces them into informal settlements, as well as poorly designed migrant worker centres in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, with inadequate access to basic services. | Egypt plans to eradicate slums by 2030 through the Urban Development Fund and a participatory city-wide urban upgrading approach. Efforts are ongoing to support rental markets and address affordability gaps. |
 |
Rural migrants, refugees, internally displaced persons and people living in slums or inadequate dwellings face discrimination and are more vulnerable to the negative impacts of climate change. Poorer people lack access to green public spaces which are typically concentrated in wealthier neighbourhoods | Amman and Irbid (Jordan) launched the Urban Planning and Infrastructure in Migration Contexts Programme to improve access to reliable services and socioeconomic opportunities for migrants and displaced populations, in coordination with humanitarian interventions. This approach allowed in-depth analysis of challenges and opportunities to support municipalities and key stakeholders in mainstreaming migration challenges into spatial urban analytics and urban infrastructure investment planning. c Through its Green City Action Plan and Climate Action Plan, Amman intends to create new parks and gardens, including in underserved areas, and upgrade existing ones. |
 |
People with disabilities frequently confront greater risks of social and economic isolation due to the lack of accommodation of their needs. Creating inclusive spaces for persons with disabilities would benefit other vulnerable groups, as well as older people and children. | The second section of the Algiers Metro line and all tramways
in Algeria are accessible to persons with disabilities and comply with international accessibility standards. In addition, regulations provide persons with disabilities with free transport or reduced fares.
Jordan places significant emphasis on fostering inclusion and diversity, ensuring the rights and participation of persons with disabilities in education and all aspects of society. This commitment is reflected in the disability law, which prohibits discrimination based on disability and includes the provision of reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. Persons with physical disabilities and older persons, however, still encounter persistent difficulties in accessing public transport, impacting access to school, health care and employment. |
1. UNDP, 2022a.
2. UN-Habitat, 2018.
3. National urban policy is understood as “a coherent set of decisions through a deliberate government-led process of coordinating and rallying various actors towards a common vision and goal that will promote more transformative, productive, inclusive and resilient urban development for the long term” (UN-Habitat and Cities Alliance, 2014).
4. UN-Habitat data for 2020, in UN-Habitat, 2023c.
5. Ibid.
6. World Bank, 2022.
7. According to the WHO, “a healthy city is one that continually creates and improves its physical and social environments and expands the community resources that enable people to mutually support each other in performing all the functions of life and developing to their maximum potential”. See “What Is a Healthy City”.
8. UN-Habitat, 2017.
9. Ibid.
10. The New Urban Agenda was adopted at the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III) in Quito, Ecuador, on 20 October 2016. It was endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly on 23 December 2016 and represents a shared vision for a better and more sustainable future urbanization.
11. See the World Bank, 2020.
12. See the State of Palestine, Implementation of the New Urban Agenda: National Report for the State of Palestine.
13. UN-Habitat, 2023c.
14. See Bahrain, Voluntary National Review report 2023.
15. Prabhu, 2021.
16. See Saudi Arabia, Report on the Implementation of the New Urban Agenda.
17. The Gulf Cooperation Council countries are the most urbanized in the region with more than 80 per cent of their populations on average residing in urban areas. The country with the highest urban population share is Kuwait at 100 per cent (UN-Habitat, 2023c).
18. See more on the Dubai 2040 Master Urban Plan.
19. See more on the Sports Boulevard.
20. See Saudi Arabia, Report on the Implementation of the New Urban Agenda.
21. UN-Habitat, 2023c.
22. See Saudi Arabia, Report on the Implementation of the New Urban Agenda.
23. Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon; Iraq, the State of Palestine and the Syrian Arab Republic fall under the group of fragile or conflict-affected countries.
24. Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia; Libya and Mauritania fall under the groups of fragile or conflict-affected countries and the least developed countries, respectively.
25. In addition, based on the published 2020 National Housing Profile Strategy, a shift from area-specific development to a participatory city-wide urban upgrading approach was endorsed in Egypt (UN-Habitat, 2023c).
26. In Jordan, despite efforts to implement policies that encourage the construction of affordable homes for the poor, it is still easier to find expensive high-end homes than more affordable alternatives (UN-Habitat, 2023c).
27. United Nations Inter-Agency Coordination in Lebanon and others, 2020.
28. UNHCR, UNICEF and WFP, 2017.
29. See Morocco, La Migration Forcée au Maroc – Résultats de l’Enquête Nationale.
30. See Amman, Voluntary Local Review.
31. See Lebanon, 2021, National Report on the Progress of the Implementation of the New Urban Agenda.
32. UN-Habitat, 2017.
33. UNEP, 2023.
34. UN-Habitat, 2017.
35. See Egypt, Voluntary National Review Report 2021.
36. See Mauritania, Voluntary National Review Report 2019.
37. See the State of Palestine, 2020, Spatial Development Strategic Framework: Jerusalem Governorate.
38. UN-Habitat, 2017.
39. UN-Habitat, 2022c.
40. See UN-Habitat, Urban Recovery Framework publication series.
41. UN-Habitat, 2017.
42. Ibid.
43. See the State of Palestine, Implementation of the New Urban Agenda: National Report for the State of Palestine.
44. UN-Habitat data for 2020, in UN-Habitat, 2023c.
45. Ibid.
46. See more on the International Coalition of Inclusive and Sustainable Cities.
47. See more on United Cities and Local Governments-Middle East and Western Asia.
48. See more on Local Governments for Sustainability.
49. See more on the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy.
50. See more on MedCities.
51. See more on Connective Cities.
52. See more on the Strong Cities Network.
53. See more on the C40 Cities.
54. Elfeky and others, 2019.
55. See more on the Quality of Life Programme.
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__________ (2022). Policy advocacy for building urban economic resilience during and after COVID-19 in the Arab region.
Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), and United Cities and Local Governments Middle East and West Asia (UCLG-MEWA) (2024). Practical Guidelines for VLRs in the Arab Region.
Elfeky, S., and others (2019). Healthy Cities Programme in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: Concurrent progress and future prospects. East Mediterranean Health Journal, vol. 25, No. 7, pp. 445–446.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) (2019). FAO Framework for the Urban Food Agenda. Rome.
Lobet, Jean Michel, Laila Abdelkader, and Alia Eldidi (2020). Egypt’s Social Housing Programme Is Prioritising Women: Here’s Why. World Bank blogs, 24 March.
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) (2021). Global State of National Urban Policy 2021: Achieving Sustainable Development Goals and Delivering Climate Action. Paris: OECD.
Prabhu, Conrad (2021). Five new integrated housing projects to create 4,800 homes in Oman. Oman Daily Observer, 17 October.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) (2022a). Arab Human Development Report. New York.
__________ (2022b). SDG Localization in the Arab States. New York.
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) (2016). Global Report on Culture for Sustainable Urban Development. Paris.
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) (2023). How Egypt Is Switching to a Circular Economy: Building Climate Resilience and Resource Efficiency.
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and World Food Programme (WFP) (2017). Vulnerability Assessment of Syrian Refugees Living in Lebanon.
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