Centrality Assessment of Mosques in Dubai’s Neighborhoods Built From 1950s to 2020

Abstract

Religious buildings are not only places of worship but also have a significant role in the social and political lives of people. However, transportation and urban design research has largely overlooked the importance of these areas. Therefore, this study aims to assess the accessibility of mosques, a type of Islamic religious building, in six residential neighborhoods in Dubai city: Dubai Creek, Al Satwa, Al Rashidiya, Al Qouz, Jumeirah, and Al Warqa. To measure accessibility in these neighborhoods, this research examines two radii, 400 m and 800 m, which are equivalent to a 5- and 10-minute walking distance, respectively. The study also considers the contribution of alleyway networks in improving accessibility by analyzing two network scenarios: street network only and combined street and alleyway network. The results indicate that the accessibility of mosques has decreased unevenly across the six neighborhoods. In the pre-suburban and early-suburban phases, a higher proportion of residential plots had access to at least one mosque. Additionally, the inclusion of alleyways often resulted in an increase in overall accessibility percentages. Besides, the findings suggest that a combination of smart street design, plot densities, network intersection densities, tactical alley placement, and mosque ratio and geographical distribution can work together to produce optimal pedestrian accessibility. Therefore, policymakers and urban planners can use these results to identify areas for improvement in current and future neighborhoods. In short, this study highlights the importance of considering religious buildings, specifically mosques, in transportation and urban design research. The accessibility of mosques in six residential neighborhoods in Dubai city was examined, and the study found that the inclusion of alleyways and other design elements could improve pedestrian accessibility. Policymakers and urban planners can use these findings to make informed decisions and implement effective changes to improve accessibility to religious buildings and other important amenities.

Date of Award	Apr 2023
Original language	American English
Supervisor	KHALED ALAWADI (Supervisor)