Dr. Ali Abd Alraouf, assistant professor of architecture at university of Bahrain was awarded the best research in Sharjah Urban Planning International Symposium which organized under the title “Capital cities challenges: Best practices in planning and strategies”. The award was declared in the closing ceremony of the symposium which took place at the American university in Sharjah.

The conference chair, his Excellency SH. Khaled Alkasemi, head of public works affairs at Sharjah Emirate handed the award certificate and trophy to Dr. Alraouf in the presence of Prof. Jerry Loco, head of the symposium scientific committee who thanked Dr. Alraouf for his distinguished approach towards contemporary Gulf cities issues and challenges.


Earlier, Dr. Ali A. Alraouf delivered a lecture where he explained the components of the research which have focused on establishing a new scientific interpretation for Contemporary Gulf cities changes and transformations. He focused on three main paradigms. The first is related to the impact of Dubai, as an urban and development model, on the rest of Gulf and Middle East cities. The second is related to the move towards knowledge economy as a new approach to development and cities growth in the post oil era. Finally, he explained the third paradigm which is based on the concepts of sustainability as the most appropriate development models for Gulf cities future.