Ibrahim Rizk Hegazy

Introduction: Social housing programs in Saudi Arabia and the wider Arabian Gulf have expanded rapidly under national visions; however, public open spaces in many of these neighborhoods remain thermally uncomfortable, weakly programmed, and underutilized. While scholarship on playful cities positions play as a key contributor to health and social cohesion, a gap remains in applying these concepts to the hot–arid, socio-cultural context of Gulf residential districts. This paper advances a testable theory: in hot–arid social-housing neighborhoods, sustained everyday play emerges when thermal usability is treated as enabling infrastructure, play opportunities are distributed across daily routes, and durable governance arrangements are in place. Methods: The study applies a qualitative, theory-building approach combining (i) a narrative literature review on playful/playable cities, child-friendly urbanism, and hot-climate public-space design; (ii) critical analysis of core play theories and practice frameworks; and (iii) a policy and project document review of Saudi quality-of-life, culture, and entertainment initiatives and flagship developments to examine how play is framed and where neighborhood-scale gaps persist. Results: The article develops a multi-scalar, climate-responsive framework for playful social-housing neighborhoods. Organized around core principles of climate adaptation, cultural sensitivity (including graded privacy, family-sized seating, and supervision sightlines), inclusivity, community engagement, and sustainability, the framework operates as a testable model linking microclimate usability (“shade-first” networks) and distributed everyday play opportunities to specific governance arrangements. Five falsifiable propositions (P1–P5) operationalize the framework across thermal performance, distribution, inclusivity, stewardship, and policy instruments. It shifts the focus from simple area provision to performance metrics based on thermal comfort hours (UTCI <32 °C, adjustable to local adaptation), accessibility, and stewardship. Discussion: The model reframes play from destination-led spectacle toward an everyday neighborhood requirement. The paper argues that embedding measurable performance standards and institutionalized participation into housing delivery can mainstream playful, thermally usable public spaces. The framework’s propositions are designed for empirical testing through post-occupancy evaluation combining microclimate monitoring, behavioral mapping, and resident feedback. The study concludes with an empirical testing protocol to evaluate these propositions across seasons and demographic groups.

Urban resilience is increasingly recognized as a critical pillar for sustainable development and a necessary capacity for navigating sustainability transitions, particularly in rapidly urbanizing and environmentally stressed regions such as Saudi Arabia. However, global resilience frameworks often lack contextual sensitivity to the unique sociocultural, climatic, and governance characteristics of Gulf cities. This study bridges that gap by systematically adapting internationally recognized resilience practices—from Singapore, Melbourne, Barcelona, and Copenhagen—and integrating lessons from Gulf Cooperation Council urban strategies to the Saudi urban context under Vision 2030. Moving beyond generic policy transfer, the study employs a comparative thematic analysis grounded in a localized resilience framework encompassing absorptive, adaptive, and transformative capacities, and introduces an operationalized transferability index based on climatic, governance, sociocultural, and technical-economic criteria. The research critiques the applicability of prevailing resilience models, identifies key enabling and inhibiting factors for implementation in high-climate stress environments, and synthesizes cross-case insights into a transferable Saudi Urban Resilience Model. Methodological rigor is ensured through triangulated content analysis of over 100 documents, including regional policy frameworks, and structured comparison matrices. The findings offer not only theoretical refinement of urban resilience in arid regions through its integration with transitions frameworks, but also practical, scalable strategies for operationalizing resilience. These are illustrated through a detailed pilot implementation scenario for Jeddah, complete with Key Performance Indicators and risk mitigation strategies. The study provides a critical evidence base for policymakers and contributes to the broader discourse on contextual policy transfer and sustainable urban transitions in arid regions.

Advanced digital technologies, including Urban Digital Twins (UDTs), are transformative for smart city development, offering solutions to mitigate climate change and enhance urban management. This study examines UDT integration within Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, focusing on optimizing energy consumption, improving smart grid operations, and adopting renewable energy systems. Using a literature review, case studies, and stakeholder consultations, it identifies key opportunities and challenges, including data security and infrastructure readiness. Insights from global examples contextualize UDTs' role in sustainable urban development, showcasing integration with low-carbon technologies. The study provides actionable strategies to position Saudi Arabia as a leader in resilient cities.

Mental health challenges, including stress, anxiety, and depression, are increasingly prevalent in urban settings, often exacerbated by inadequate access to well-designed public outdoor spaces (POS). This study explores the relationship between POS and mental health outcomes in Al Madinah and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, using a mixed-methods approach involving literature review, case studies, and public surveys. Findings reveal significant disparities in POS satisfaction, with Al Madinah exhibiting lower availability and accessibility. Despite better POS access in Jeddah, mental health challenges remain widespread across both cities. Recommendations emphasize integrating neurourbanism principles into urban planning to create inclusive, accessible, and restorative urban environments.

This research examines the role of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) in promoting sustainable coastal zone management in Saudi Arabia, in alignment with Vision 2030. Focusing on key coastal regions, namely the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf, the study explores SEA’s capacity to guide development activities toward long-term environmental sustainability. Through a comparative analysis of SEA and traditional Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), the study emphasizes SEA’s proactive, integrative, and participatory approach to decision-making. The findings illustrate how SEA enhances the strategic alignment of national environmental objectives by fostering resilient and sustainable strategies that balance development with conservation in Saudi Arabia’s coastal zones. Ultimately, SEA is identified as a crucial instrument in achieving Vision 2030’s sustainability goals, offering a pathway to safeguard coastal ecosystems while supporting economic growth.

This research delves into the integration and alignment between strategic environmental assessment (SEA) practices and Egypt's united nations sustainable development goals (SDGs), with a focus on incorporating environmental, social, and economic considerations into policies, plans, and programs. The study assesses Egypt's strategic environmental assessment framework, identifying its strengths, weaknesses, challenges, and gaps in sustainable development. It critically analyzes institutional coordination, stakeholder engagement, monitoring, reporting, and evaluation (MRE) frameworks, and policy coherence. The key findings underscore the commendable emphasis on environmental integrity in SEA practices, while also highlighting significant deficiencies in integrating broader sustainability criteria and aligning with the SDGs. The research concludes with policy implications, practice recommendations, and future research directions that aim to bolster the effectiveness of strategic environmental assessment in contributing to sustainable development in Egypt.

This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the application of green neighborhood rating systems, specifically Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-Neighborhood Development (LEED-ND) and Building Research Foundation Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM)-Communities, in the context of Cairo, Egypt, focusing on Al Rehab City, a prominent urban area in New Cairo. The study begins by providing a background on Al-Rehab City, explaining its strategic planning, urban design, and demographic dynamics. It then delves into the current state of sustainable urban planning in Egypt, highlighting the challenges and opportunities that exist in this rapidly urbanizing context. The core of the article includes a comparative analysis of LEED-ND and BREEAM communities, assessing their adaptability and relevance to the Egyptian urban landscape, especially Al Rehab City. It explores many sustainability issues such as smart location, neighborhood pattern and design, green infrastructure, sustainable transportation, energy efficiency, water conservation, waste management, and community engagement. The discussion extends to examine how each of these aspects of sustainability applies to Al Rehab City, complemented by case studies and examples of current sustainable practices in Cairo. Furthermore, the article identifies specific local challenges in implementing these assessment systems, such as economic constraints, policy constraints, and cultural factors. It also suggests opportunities for improvement, including the potential for public–private partnerships, policy reforms, community engagement, technological innovation, and sustainable urban development modeling. In conclusion, the article provides insight into the future prospects of green urban planning in Cairo. The potential impact of adopting comprehensive assessment systems is discussed, with an emphasis on the role of Al Rehab City as a potential model for sustainable urban development in Egypt and the wider MENA region. The article aims to contribute to the discourse on sustainable urban planning, and provide a roadmap for integrating global sustainability standards into the unique context of Egyptian cities.

This research article provides an in-depth look into the urban development trajectory of Jeddah, a historic port city in Saudi Arabia, which has developed into a vibrant urban center that reflects its rich past and ambitious future. The study systematically explores Jeddah’s journey through different lenses—its strategic geographical location as a maritime and pilgrimage gateway, its historical development dating back to the seventh century and its transformation influenced by diverse cultural and economic interactions. It comprehensively analyzes Jeddah’s social and economic fabric, demographic trends and the impact of these factors on the city’s urban landscape. This article examines the governance and regulatory frameworks that shape development policies in Jeddah and addresses how these frameworks are designed to meet the challenges of modern urbanization, including rapid population growth, infrastructure requirements and environmental sustainability. The research also examines the city’s response to these challenges, focusing on strategic planning, infrastructure development and sustainable urban initiatives that align with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030. This article provides an in-depth understanding of urban dynamics in Jeddah, presenting it as a case study for managing growth and modernization in rapid urban environments.

This research examines the transportation system in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, specifically focusing on integrating intelligent and sustainable practices to address its current and emerging challenges. Central to these challenges are the city’s heavy reliance on private vehicles, an underdeveloped public transportation network, and the unique climatic conditions that pose additional complexities. This study adopts a multidimensional approach. It analyzes various factors, including technological advancements in transportation, sustainable and environmentally friendly practices, and the cultural and policy landscapes that shape transportation systems. It draws parallels and contrasts with transportation systems in urban settings similar to Jeddah, such as Dubai and Riyadh, to understand the potential and applicability of various solutions. One of the critical areas explored is the potential for intelligent transportation systems to revolutionize traffic management and enhance the efficiency and safety of the transportation network in Jeddah. The study also delves into the prospects of developing a sustainable public transit system that can reduce the city’s dependence on private vehicles and contribute to environmental conservation. Moreover, the research acknowledges the critical role of cultural influences in shaping transportation preferences and practices in Jeddah. It highlights the importance of culturally sensitive urban planning and policy making, ensuring that the proposed transportation solutions are not only technologically sound and environmentally sustainable but also aligned with the social and cultural fabric of the city. The study’s findings agree that a successful overhaul of Jeddah’s transportation system will require a synergistic blend of technological innovation, comprehensive policy reform, and a deep understanding of cultural nuances. The research underscores the necessity of this integrated approach as a blueprint for transforming urban transportation in Jeddah, setting a precedent for other cities with similar challenges.