Abu Dhabi: A Burgeoning Green Utopia?

The Ecotopia 2121 Project details the future of 100 cities around the world as if they had somehow overcome all the serious environmental challenges of our time and grown to become mega-green and super-green. This month, we highlight the future of Abu Dhabi.

"Cities grow large only when citizens plant trees

whose shade they will not live to enjoy"

(ancient Arab proverb)

At the beginning of the 21st century, Abu Dhabi is a car-dependent city on par with any other in the Western world, a situation driven by the Emiratis' desire to travel in air-conditioned luxury and by the availability of cheap indigenous fossil fuels.

Here, in this Abu Dhabi 2121, however, the dominance of the automobile over city life is broken with the help of a new socio-architectural environment comprising one or two-story houses interconnected with walkways; In addition to a huge tower of palm trees that protects the city center from the sweltering sun.

THE GREEN UTOPIA OF ABU DHABI 2121 by Alan Marshall

Here, in this Abu Dhabi 2121, however, the dominance of the automobile over city life is broken with the help of a new socio-architectural environment comprising one or two-story houses interconnected with walkways; In addition to a huge tower of palm trees that protects the city center from the sweltering sun.

For the full story of Abu Dhabi 2121, see the Abu Dhabi chapter of the Ecotopia 2121 book.