From oil boom town to global model—how a bold Canadian–Emirati partnership reimagined Abu Dhabi for a sustainable future.

Planning the Future of Abu Dhabi reveals the inside story of how a team of Canadian urban planners helped transform the Emirate from a boom town driven by oil into a model of sustainable, contemporary city building. In the early 2000s, Abu Dhabi’s vast petroleum revenues fueled rapid but fragmented growth. By 2007, however, the city’s leaders sought a new path—one shaped by visionary planning, disciplined development management, and a commitment to livability, environmental stewardship, and cultural sensitivity. At the heart of this transformation was a groundbreaking Canadian–Emirati collaboration. Led by Larry Beasley, the overall project leader, and Michael White, the in-country lead, the team worked closely with Abu Dhabi’s leadership to establish a progressive planning agency capable of delivering state-of-the-art development guidance. 

Each chapter takes readers through the swift yet comprehensive process that reshaped the city: creating community and regional plans, introducing a modern development control system, implementing transportation and public-realm innovations, adopting sustainable building practices, safeguarding the natural environment, building local capacity for civic design, and preparing for handover to local management. Rich in insight and practical detail, this book is an essential read for anyone interested in sustainable development, urban planning, and the future of city building.