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Transit-Oriented Development and Urban Livability in Gulf Cities: Comparative Analysis of Doha’s West Bay and Riyadh’s King Abdullah Financial District

Author

Listed:
  • Silvia Mazzetto

    (Sustainable Architecture Laboratory, Department of Architecture, College of Architecture and Design, Prince Sultan University, Riyadh 12435, Saudi Arabia)

  • Raffaello Furlan

    (Department of Architecture and Urban Planning, College of Engineering, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar)

  • Jalal Hoblos

    (Department of Architecture and Urban Planning, College of Engineering, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar)

Abstract

Gulf cities have embarked on ambitious public transport infrastructure initiatives in recent decades to foster more livable and sustainable cities. This investigation explores the interpretations and implementation of Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) principles in two prototypical urban districts: Doha’s West Bay, Qatar, and Riyadh’s King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD), Saudi Arabia. By following a comparative case study approach, the study explores how retrofitted (West Bay) and purpose-built (KAFD) TOD configurations fare regarding land use mix, density, connectivity, transit access, and environmental responsiveness. The comparative methodology was selected to specifically capture the spatial, climatic, and socio-economic complexities of TOD implementation in hyper-arid urban environments. Based on qualitative evidence from stakeholder interviews, spatial assessments, and geospatial indicators—such as metro access buffers, building shape compactness, and TOD proximity classification—the investigation reflects both common challenges and localized adaptations in hot-desert Urbanism. It emerges that, while benefiting from integrated planning and multimodal connectivity, KAFD’s pedestrian realm is delimited by climatic constraints and inactive active transport networks. West Bay, on the other hand, features fragmented public spaces and low TOD cohesion because of automotive planning heritages. However, it holds potential for retrofit through infill development and tactical Urbanism. The results provide transferable insights that can inform TOD strategies in other Gulf and international contexts facing similar sustainability and mobility challenges. By finalizing strategic recommendations for urban livability improvement through context-adaptive TOD approaches in Gulf cities, the study contributes to the wider discussion of sustainable Urbanism in rapidly changing environments and supplies a reproducible assessment frame for future TOD planning. This study contributes new knowledge by advancing a context-adaptive TOD framework tailored to the unique conditions of hyper-arid Gulf cities.

Suggested Citation

  • Silvia Mazzetto & Raffaello Furlan & Jalal Hoblos, 2025. "Transit-Oriented Development and Urban Livability in Gulf Cities: Comparative Analysis of Doha’s West Bay and Riyadh’s King Abdullah Financial District," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-47, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:18:p:8278-:d:1749682
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Alattar, Deema Anwar & Furlan, Raffaello, 2017. "Urban regeneration in Qatar: A comprehensive planning strategy for the transport oriented development of Al-Waab," Journal of Urban Regeneration and Renewal, Henry Stewart Publications, vol. 11(2), pages 168-193, December.
    2. Silvia Mazzetto & Raffaello Furlan & Reem Awwaad, 2025. "Sustainable Urban Renewal: Planning Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) in Riyadh," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-37, May.
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