Planning Abu Dhabi: From Arish Village to a Global, Sustainable, Arab Capital City By Alamira Reem Bani Hashim A dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in City and Regional Planning in the Graduate Division of the University of California, Berkeley Committee in charge: Professor Elizabeth S. Macdonald, Chair Professor Michael Southworth Professor Greig Crysler Summer 2015 © Alamira Reem Bani Hashim Abstract Planning Abu Dhabi: From Arish Village to a Global, Sustainable Arab Capital City by Alamira Reem Bani Hashim Doctor of Philosophy in City and Regional Planning University of California, Berkeley Professor Elizabeth S. Macdonald, Chair The overarching objective of this research project is to explore and document the urban history of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. It is organized as a comparative study of urban planning and design processes in Abu Dhabi during three major periods of the city’s development following the discovery of oil: (1) 1960-1966: Sheikh Shakhbut Bin Sultan Al Nahyan’s rule (2) 1966-2004: Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan’s rule; and (3) 2004-2013: Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s rule. The intention of this study is to go beyond a typical historical narrative of sleepy village-turned-metropolis, to compare and contrast the different visions of each ruler and his approach to development; to investigate the role and influence of a complex network of actors, including planning institutions, architects, developers, construction companies and various government agencies; to examine the emergence and use of comprehensive development plans and the policies and values underlying them; as well as to understand the decision-making processes and design philosophies informing urban planning, in relation to the political and economic context of each period. The project is informed through archival research, spatial mapping, and key informant interviews. It attempts to uncover the underlying foundations of the development of Abu Dhabi by situating the city within a theoretical framework that engages the debates and writings of several theorists on globalization, oil economies in the Arab Gulf, urban governance and planning institutions, and urban design. !1 To Baba Zayed, for believing in a woman’s right to an education. !i Table of Contents List of Figures viii Acknowledgments xv Chapter One: The Construction of an Urban Past 1 1.1 Aims of the Research Project 4 1.2 Existing Literature and Contribution 6 1.3 Research Design and Methods 10 Study Region 10 Periods of Observation and Criteria for Selection 12 Data Collection and Analysis Procedures 13 1. Archival Research 13 2. In-depth Interviews with Key Informants 14 3. Spatial Mapping and Urban Morphology 15 1.4 Limitations 16 1.5 Structure of the Dissertation 18 Chapter Two: Situating Abu Dhabi 21 2.1 Oil Cities, Urban Modernity and Globalization 21 Oil and Urban Modernity 21 Globalization and the Arab Gulf 23 2.2 Planning Institutions and Urban Governance 25 Planning Institutions 26 Governance and the Entrepreneurial City 29 2.3 Theories of Urban Form and Design 32 The Arab-Islamic City 32 The Modernist City 36 !ii The New Urbanist City 37 The Sustainable City 40 2.4 Concluding Remarks 41 Chapter Three: From the Hinterland to the Coast: Origins of an Urban Identity (1761-1960) 43 3.1 Early Settlement 43 Geography, Topography, Boundaries and Early Urban Fabric 45 Abu Dhabi, the Island 46 3.2 Tribes in the Sheikhdom 49 A Brief History of the Bani Yas 49 Rulers of Abu Dhabi 1761-1928 50 3.3 The Traditional Economy 52 3.4 Increasing British Interests 53 Great Britain, Trade Routes and Maritime Peace along the Trucial Coast 53 Political Agent and Political Resident 55 Searching for Oil 56 3.5 Concluding Remarks 59 Chapter Four: Maintaining the Status Quo (1960-1966) 61 4.1 Shakhbut’s Abu Dhabi: A Bedouin Town 62 4.2 The Foundations of Modern Governance 65 The Tribal System 65 Administration of the Tribal Society 68 Tribalism in Transition: The Impact of Oil 69 !iii 1. The Influence of the British Government on the Tribal Administrative System 71 2. An Embryo Administration in Abu Dhabi 75 A Planning Institution, Land Allocation and Ownership 78 1. Abu Dhabi Municipality 78 2. Land Allocation and Ownership 79 4.3 Plans of the Experts: An Oil Export Station 80 John R. Harris and the First Master Plan for Abu Dhabi 81 1. John R Harris 81 2. The “Harris Plan” 1961 83 Abu Dhabi Consultants: Sir William Halcrow & Partners and Scott & Wilson, Kirkpatrick & Partners 88 1. Sir William Halcrow & Partners, Scott & Wilson, Kirkpatrick & Partners 88 2. Abu Dhabi Island Survey, Development Plan and Report 1962 89 Brian Colquhoun and Partners 96 ARABICON, Part One 97 4.4 Arish Village 98 1960-1961: The Under-urbanized Freej 98 1962-1966: Slow “Progress” 112 4.5 Concluding Remarks 116 Chapter Five: Achieving Modernization and the Federation of Seven (1966-2004) 119 5.1 Sheikh Zayed’s Abu Dhabi: Green, Modern and for the People 119 5.2 New Government 126 Growing Pains 126 1. Towards a “Bedoucracy” 128 2. Consolidation and Coordination 129 Abu Dhabi’s Role in the Federation 133 !iv 1. Abu Dhabi: A Model for Statehood 133 The Expansion of Formal Government 136 Urban Planning Institutions, Land Allocation and Ownership 137 1. Urban Planning Institutions 137 2. Planning Regulations, Development Review and Permits 139 3. Land Allocation and Ownership 141 5.3 Plans of the Experts: Human City or Modern City 143 ARABICON, Part Two 143 1. John Elliott 144 2. The ARABICON Plan (1967) 145 Katsuhiko Takahashi and the General Plan for Abu Dhabi 151 1. Katsuhiko Takahashi 151 2. Takahashi’s Plan (1968) 152 Abdelrahman Makhlouf and Comprehensive Urban Development 157 1. Dr. Abdelrahman Makhlouf 157 2. Makhlouf’s Plan (1968) 160 De Leuw, Cather International Limited and Abu Dhabi’s Transportation and Roads Improvement Program (TRIP) 166 1. De Leuw, Cather International Limited 166 2. The DLCI Plan (1979) 166 WS Atkins & Partners Overseas: A New Comprehensive Development Plan 168 1. Atkins 168 2. The Abu Dhabi Comprehensive Development Plan: Master Directive Plan for Abu Dhabi City and Environs (1990-2010) 169 5.4 The Modern City Built Twice Over 179 1966-1967: Paving the Path to Modernity 179 1968-1973: From Arish to Sabsoub 182 1974-1979: Rapid Growth and the Modern Vernacular 188 1980-1988: Horizontal and Vertical Expansion 195 1989-2004: Glass Towers, Shopping Malls and Greater Abu !v Dhabi Expansion 203 5.5 Concluding Remarks 210 Chapter Six: Building the Global, Sustainable Arab Capital City (2004-2013) 212 6.1 Sheikh Khalifa’s New Vision for Abu Dhabi and the Sharing of Responsibilities with Sheikh Mohammed 212 6.2 Abu Dhabi’s New Economy and Government Restructuring 218 Corporate Governance & Abu Dhabi Inc. 218 1. The Entrepreneurial City 219 Towards a Shared Vision 224 1. Post-Crises (2008-2013): New Priorities for a Resilient City 226 Tribal Capitalism 229 Planning Institutions, Land Allocation and Ownership 230 1. Setting up the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council 230 2. Development Review, Approvals, Permits 235 3. Planning Policies and Regulations 239 4. Estidama 243 5. Land Allocation and Ownership 244 6.3 Plan Abu Dhabi 2030: The Smooth-Flowing Human Eco-City 247 Vancouverism in Abu Dhabi: Larry Beasley and Plan Abu Dhabi 2030 247 1. Drawing up Plan Abu Dhabi 2030 248 2. Larry Beasley and the Vancouver Model 254 3. Plan Abu Dhabi 2030: Urban Structure Framework Plan 256 6.4 Abu Dhabi Metropolitan 276 2004-2008: Land Speculation, Starchitecture and Iconic Towers 276 1. Sustainable Technologies, New Projects, Old Tensions 281 2008-2013: Scaling Back 289 !vi Progressing Toward Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Vision 2030 303 6.5 Concluding Remarks 307 Conclusion 310 Bibliography 336 Appendix A: Interview References 361 Appendix B: Al Nahyan Family Tree 362 Appendix C: List of Entities for No Objection Certificates (NOCs) 363 Appendix D: Investment Zones in Abu Dhabi 364 Appendix E: Abu Dhabi Areas Map 365 Appendix F: New and Upcoming Developments (2004-present) 366 Illustration Credits and Sources 367 !vii List of Figures Chapter One 1.1 The United Arab Emirates in context 11 1.2 Abu Dhabi Emirate and its regions 11 Chapter Three 3.1 Abu Dhabi topography 45 3.2 Abu Dhabi island c.1950s 47 3.3 Aerial view of Abu Dhabi 1940s 47 3.4 Aerial view of Abu Dhabi 1955 47 3.5 Crossing al-Maqta’ 48 Chapter Four 4.1 Sheikh Shakhbut bin Zayed 65 4.2 From left to right: Sheikhs Khalid, Shakhbut and Zayed 67 4.3 Sheikh Shakhbut among elders such as Sheikh Muhammad bin Khalifa 67 4.4 Abu Dhabi Government Organization Chart 78 4.5 Abu Dhabi town plan by John R. Harris 1961 83 4.6 Residential Unit, Harris Plan 1961 84 4.7 Sample Housing Units, Harris Plan 1961 84 4.8 Abu Dhabi 25000 Population Development, Abu Dhabi Consultants 89 4.9 Abu Dhabi Ultimate Development, Abu Dhabi Consultants 90 4.10 Typical Neighborhood for Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Consultants 91 4.11 Aerial view of Abu Dhabi town 1960 98 4.12 Abu Dhabi Island 1950s 100 4.13 Abu Dhabi layout in the 1950s 100 4.14 Scenes from the souq 101 4.15 More souq scenes 102 !viii 4.16 Traditional arish dwellings 103 4.17 Traditional arish dwellings 103 4.18 Abu Dhabi circulation patterns 1950s 104 4.19 Abu Dhabi sectors 1950s 105 4.20 Edward Henderson’s sketch of Abu Dhabi 1950 106 4.21 Residential areas in Abu Dhabi 1950s 106 4.22 Stone Causeway, Customs Post and Watchtower 108 4.23 Wells in Abu Dhabi 108 4.24 Temporary jetty in Abu Dhabi 1961 111 4.25 Abu Dhabi Municipality c.1963 113 4.26