Date of Defense
9-6-2025 12:00 AM
Location
F1-1124
Document Type
Dissertation Defense
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy in Architectural Engineering
College
COE
Department
Architectural Engineering
First Advisor
Prof. Khaled Galal Ahmed
Keywords
Community Participation, Sustainability, Urban Resilience, Urban Farming, Neighbourhoods, Emirati, UAE.
Abstract
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has integrated local agendas aimed at achieving urban sustainability and resilience, particularly in alignment with UAE Vision 2030. However, official initiatives in this domain often lack genuine community participation—a critical pillar for the success of sustainable urban development. Meanwhile, urban farming has garnered increasing recognition both globally and locally as a significant contributor to urban sustainability and resilience. In the UAE, official focus has largely centered on professional vertical farming, demonstrated through various high-profile projects. In contrast, informal, household-based urban farming is actively practiced within semi-public, semi-private, and private spaces across many Emirati public housing neighbourhoods. Despite their prevalence, these grassroots practices have not been sufficiently examined for their potential to serve as participatory processes that support urban sustainability and resilience at the neighbourhood level.
This research aims to bridge this gap through in-depth investigations into these informal residents-led processes and their outcomes in representative case studies of public housing neighborhoods in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain Cities. To undertake these investigations, the research addressed the following key questions: First, What are the concepts and objectives of urban farming? Second, How is informal household farming being practiced in the open spaces in the selected neighborhoods? Third, How does the practiced informal urban farming affect food production, climate change, and resilience? Fourth, what are the households’ opinions on collective participation in community urban farms in public spaces? And lastly, how do the key stakeholders perceive this informal urban agriculture process in terms of its integration, challenges, and potential for wider application.
To address these questions, the research adopted the Case Study method, focusing on two representative neighborhoods witnessing intensive urban farming activities—Al Falah neighbourhood in Abu Dhabi City and Al Daher neighbourhood in Al Ain City, both in the UAE. The research employed mixed qualitative and quantitative investigation tools, including a comprehensive literature review, field observations, Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping and analysis, and semi-structured in-depth interviews with a sample of residents and stakeholders.
The research findings have revealed the aspects of the informal urban farming process as led by the residents themselves, as well as the significant impacts that this informal process has had on multiple levels, including environmental sustainability, local food production, community engagement, and environmental resilience. The research has shown that Emirati residents are eager to engage in collective urban farming activities besides their ‘individual’ urban farming practices. Meanwhile, the interviewed key stakeholders have emphasized the importance of integrating urban agriculture into the current urban planning policies and regulations.
Based on these insights, the research proposes recommendations to legalize and recognize these informal, household-managed urban farming within Emirati urban development frameworks. The research further advocates for expanding these initiatives by encouraging community participation, supported by local authorities and relevant stakeholders acting as facilitators.
Included in
POTENTIALS OF INFORMAL HOUSEHOLD-PRACTICED URBAN FARMING AS A CONTRIBUTOR TO SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCE IN EMIRATI NEIGHBOURHOODS
F1-1124
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has integrated local agendas aimed at achieving urban sustainability and resilience, particularly in alignment with UAE Vision 2030. However, official initiatives in this domain often lack genuine community participation—a critical pillar for the success of sustainable urban development. Meanwhile, urban farming has garnered increasing recognition both globally and locally as a significant contributor to urban sustainability and resilience. In the UAE, official focus has largely centered on professional vertical farming, demonstrated through various high-profile projects. In contrast, informal, household-based urban farming is actively practiced within semi-public, semi-private, and private spaces across many Emirati public housing neighbourhoods. Despite their prevalence, these grassroots practices have not been sufficiently examined for their potential to serve as participatory processes that support urban sustainability and resilience at the neighbourhood level.
This research aims to bridge this gap through in-depth investigations into these informal residents-led processes and their outcomes in representative case studies of public housing neighborhoods in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain Cities. To undertake these investigations, the research addressed the following key questions: First, What are the concepts and objectives of urban farming? Second, How is informal household farming being practiced in the open spaces in the selected neighborhoods? Third, How does the practiced informal urban farming affect food production, climate change, and resilience? Fourth, what are the households’ opinions on collective participation in community urban farms in public spaces? And lastly, how do the key stakeholders perceive this informal urban agriculture process in terms of its integration, challenges, and potential for wider application.
To address these questions, the research adopted the Case Study method, focusing on two representative neighborhoods witnessing intensive urban farming activities—Al Falah neighbourhood in Abu Dhabi City and Al Daher neighbourhood in Al Ain City, both in the UAE. The research employed mixed qualitative and quantitative investigation tools, including a comprehensive literature review, field observations, Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping and analysis, and semi-structured in-depth interviews with a sample of residents and stakeholders.
The research findings have revealed the aspects of the informal urban farming process as led by the residents themselves, as well as the significant impacts that this informal process has had on multiple levels, including environmental sustainability, local food production, community engagement, and environmental resilience. The research has shown that Emirati residents are eager to engage in collective urban farming activities besides their ‘individual’ urban farming practices. Meanwhile, the interviewed key stakeholders have emphasized the importance of integrating urban agriculture into the current urban planning policies and regulations.
Based on these insights, the research proposes recommendations to legalize and recognize these informal, household-managed urban farming within Emirati urban development frameworks. The research further advocates for expanding these initiatives by encouraging community participation, supported by local authorities and relevant stakeholders acting as facilitators.