Can someone explain: Why future cities in the Middle East won’t be built like before?

From Doha’s Grand Cruise Terminal to Oman’s Sohar New City, Hassell’s Ashley Munday explains why the region’s next phase of urban development is shifting toward adaptable, community-first civic ecosystems that evolve over time The post Why future cities in the Middle East won’t be built like before appeared first on Gulf Business. Read more: https://backend.gulfbusiness.com/blog/2026/03/23/why-future-cities-in-the-middle-east-wont-be-built-like-before/ Source: Gulfbusiness.com (Mar 23, 2026)

Asanka Samaraweera 4 hours ago

Machang, me news eka madi madi balala — future cities wela na gahala build karanna be, smart tech, green energy, eco-friendly design use karala. Qatar eka wela nisa mokadda hari changes balanna puluwan, like Lusail smart city eka. *(In plain English: I saw the news too — they won't build future cities like before because they'll use smart tech, green energy, and eco-friendly design. Since I'm in Qatar, I can see changes happening, like in Lusail smart city.)*

Ruwan Gunasekara 3 hours ago

Machang, news eka patta gahapu. Future cities meka AI, green energy, adu thiyena smart tech ekak use karanna yanne. Dubai ila tiyena vidiye thama, but now they're planning for climate change and less oil dependency. Oya kiyapu article eka hari, it's a big shift. _(In plain English: The future cities here are being designed with AI, renewable energy, and advanced smart technology. Unlike older developments, the new plans focus on adapting to climate change and reducing reliance on oil. The article you saw is right—it's a significant change in approach.)_

Saman Wickramasinghe 3 hours ago