Journal of Iran and Regional Studies

Journal of Iran and Regional Studies

Eco-towns, Sustainable Development and Challenges Facing a Green Future in West Asia: A Case Study of Masdar City in the UAE

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Author
Farnaz Noori
Assistant Professor of Trans-regional and Global Studies, University of Tehran, Iran
10.22059/jices.2026.418713.1116
Abstract
Since the 1970s, the development of urban environments designed to support sustainable lifestyles—integrating urban planning, ecology, and civic participation—has emerged as a primary global solution to environmental degradation. The West Asia region, characterized by rapid urbanization, population growth, diverse environmental pollutants, and acute water scarcity, faces a unique set of challenges. Furthermore, regional nation-states have implemented long-term development programs that necessitate rigorous environmental considerations. This article presents a case study of Masdar City in the UAE, reviewing the national policies adopted to attain and ensure sustainable development. Employing a descriptive case study methodology, this research examines the challenges the government faces in meeting the ecological standards established in the original project design and advocated by eco-city theorists. The author argues that while the UAE’s initiative to develop an eco-city is fundamentally sound—driven by both environmental imperatives and tourism objectives—some green ambitions remain unfulfilled due to the state’s tendency to prioritize commercial interests over the holistic goals of ecological urbanism. Additional challenges include the fragility of societal infrastructures and inequitable access to urban facilities, which disproportionately favour affluent segments of the population.
Keywords
Eco-city
Arab West Asian Governments
Sustainable Development
Urbanization
Journal of Iran and Regional Studies

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 06 October 2026