23 1.2 Outlines and issues of global urban models GCC Cities – The Arabian Peninsula often referred to as the GCC, an abbreviation for the Gulf Cooperation Council, was formed in 1981 as a loose political and economic alliance between Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), (Fraser, Golzari, 2012). Numerous kinds of literature can be found on the formation of this council, its shared historical geography, cultural and religious mores, governance structures, rapid urbanization, large migrant worker population and vast revenues generated from oil and gas. Mohammed Al Fahim, 1995, in his book “From rags to riches” accounts for the major transformation of the Persian land that he has witnessed while growing up in the ruler’s palace. A more responsive treatment of architectural and urban development in the Persian Gulf, also focusing on the recordbreaking towers, shopping malls, man-made islands, airports, and seaports can, however, be found in books edited by Ibrahim Jaidah or Yasser Elsheshtawy, or by some western expatriates in the Gulf region, such edited book by George Katodrytis on Dubai’s architecture, or in various essays by his colleague at the American University of Sharjah, (Katodrytis and Mitchell, 2008) Dubai’s Urbanism and master plans - Low urbanization period - An important contribution to Dubai’s urbanization planning is by John Harris, who designed Dubai’s first masterplan in 1960 focusing on compact development, new road systems for the city, identifying city centre area and several different land-uses of the new urbanization expansion. The next ambitious Master plan by John Harris in 1971 focused on a period of suburban growth while the discovery of oil reserves was strengthening the financial status of the city. Dubai Municipality formation - Urban globalization period, since early 1990, the political authorities of Dubai under the framework of Dubai Municipality were responsible for the spatial planning and strategies to guide the urban development of Dubai. It focused on the expansion of areas by providing more lands to meet the future demands for residential, industrial, and commercial uses, expanding the transport network and infrastructure facilities to the suburban areas.
Sneha Santhosh Kumar
