Negotiating a cosmopolitan urban hub: policy implications for migration, housing, and sustainability in metropolitan Doha

The rapid transformation of Doha from a modest Gulf town to a cosmopolitan metropolis reflects complex interactions of migration, urban expansion, and sustainable development. Driven largely by labour migration, the city has emerged as a transit city where temporary migrants contribute to the city's socio-spatial segmentation. Drawing on a decade of research comprising two major projects examining Doha as a knowledge-based urban hub (2011–2014) and housing typologies in emerging cities (2015–2019), this article expands outcomes and critically examines recent Doha's urban transformation through the integrated lens of migration, housing, and sustainability, elucidating how these domains shape inclusivity and cohesion. The analysis reveals critical issues including socio-spatial fragmentation, housing affordability crises, and severely limited social integration for migrant laborers. While transit-oriented developments and green infrastructure demonstrate Qatar's sustainability ambitions, benefits concentrate in affluent areas, intensifying socioeconomic disparities. The study proposes growth trajectories as pathways which align with Qatar National Vision 2030, including integrated policies promoting affordable housing near transit hubs, extended residency opportunities, and enhanced social services for migrant communities.