Urban transformation in the United Arab Emirates has been largely shaped by mega projects that have changed the socio-economic and physical aspects of the country. Examples of such developments include Burj Khalifa, Palm Jumeirah, Louvre Abu Dhabi, and Masdar City which stand for modernization, globalization, and economic diversification. This research report focuses on the impact of mega projects on urban space, social structure, and social mobility in Emirati society. Through the use of urban sociology approaches like modernization theory, spatial inequality theory, and globalization, the impacts of urban transformation will be analyzed to determine whether it brings about more benefits than risks. Findings from the analysis indicate that mega projects play a critical role in contributing to economic development, tourism, and globalization, but at the same time they increase social stratification, segregation, and inequitable resource distribution among social classes.
Alshehhi et al. (Tue,) studied this question.