URBAN OMAN

The research on Urban Oman examines the consequences of urbanisation triggered by rapid economic and demographic growth in Oman and the Arab Gulf. The research is structured in three parts:

The publication ‘Arab Gulf Cities in Transition: Towards New Spatialities’ examines the interdependencies of a dynamic field of urban space, urban politics and urban society engendered by rapid modernisation and urbanisation processes after oil discovery in the late 1960s, the cities of the Arab Gulf became the centres of economic activities and globalised societies in the region. This book frames the regional transition that subsequently transformed Oman as well.

Cummings, V., von Richthofen, A. & Babar, Z. 2019. Arab Gulf Cities in Transition: Space, Politics and Society. ETH research collection. https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000339841

The publication ‘Urban Oman – Trends and Perspectives of Urbanisation in Muscat Capital Area’ analyses the background and driving forces of the urbanisation process in Oman and give an overview on physical growth patterns in Muscat Capital Area in Oman. It presents findings from field and case-studies gathered from systematic observation and mapping from 2011-2015, develops topics of sustainable urban design, transportation, climate-related urban design and urban governance relative to the Sultanate.

Nebel, S., von Richthofen, A. 2016. Urban Oman - Trends and Perspectives of Urbanisation in Muscat Capital Area. Vol. 21. HABITAT - INTERNATIONAL: Schriften Zur Internationalen Stadtentwicklung. Berlin: LIT Verlag.

The dissertation ‘Spatial Diversity and Sustainable Urbanisation in Oman’ traces geographic, climatic, ecological, historic, socio-cultural, political and economic aspects that positions Oman at a crucial turning point where spatial resources are limited, not evenly accessible and not symmetrically mobilised by processes of urban growth, extension and concentration. The dissertation links spatial diversity to resilient land use and sustainable urban development in light of ongoing demographic growth and depleting resources.

von Richthofen, A. 2019. “Spatial Diversity and Sustainable Urbanisation in Oman.” Dissertation, Braunschweig: Technische Universität Braunschweig. https://doi.org/10.24355/dbbs.084-201901220928-0.