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Green giants

How urban nature
transforms cities

Green giants

How urban nature
transforms cities

Green spaces can lower urban temperatures by up to 5°C

Sharjah’s green areas cover 22 million square metres

By 2030, Riyadh will plant 7.5 million trees

The world is getting hotter. Can urban green spaces cool it down?

In the heart of Sharjah, a green transformation is taking place, turning the city into a lush oasis. The local government set out to beautify the city and fight climate change—one park at a time.
© Solkafa/shutterstock.com
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Imagine walking through the bustling streets of Sharjah, where a green transformation is unfolding around you. Once arid spaces now feature increased greenery, with parks and gardens providing some relief from the heat. This is no accident—the city is on a mission to beautify itself and tackle climate change, one park at a time.

Today, Sharjah has 68 gardens that produced 17 million flowers in 2022, with thousands more planted along streets and in public squares. The city’s nurseries are busy growing decorative and fruit-bearing trees, and in a true community effort, they’re giving away seedlings to residents for free. These initiatives have expanded Sharjah’s green spaces to 22 million square metres, growing by over 12% each year.

Urban parks are essential in the fight against climate change, especially in the Middle East, where cities have long experienced extreme heat. These green spaces cool the air, absorb carbon, and improve air quality. Cities like Sharjah, already adapted to high temperatures, are leading the way in climate solutions, offering lessons for the rest of the world.

Check out the map of average July temperatures from 2020–2023, showing how hot it feels for people — measuring thermal stress and discomfort:
-37 ºC
+41 ºC
Dubai +39 ºC
Madrid +27 ºC
Oslo +16 ºC
Tokyo +28 ºC

© 2024 Made by Urbi Atlas. Data: Copernicus Climate Change Service

According to scientists who study the world’s climate, August 2024 was one of the hottest summer months ever recorded. The average global temperature hit 16.82°C, which is 0.71°C warmer than the typical August from 1991 to 2020. Even more striking, it was 1.51°C above pre-industrial levels. This marks the 13th time in the last 14 months that global temperatures have been over 1.5°C above what they used to be, showing how much our planet is heating up.

Samantha Burgess, Deputy Director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service, says that in 2024, we’ve seen the hottest June and August, the hottest day ever, and the hottest summer in the Northern Hemisphere on record. In all likelihood, 2024 will be the hottest year yet.

80%

In 2022, 80% of cities worldwide faced significant climate hazards, ranging from extreme heat to floods.

Climate change affects our health in many ways: it can lead to breathing and heart problems, diseases from pests like ticks and mosquitoes, water and food-related illnesses, and even injuries or deaths. It’s also been linked to worsening mental health. Rising temperatures have become a global issue, with cities worldwide experiencing hot weather in recent decades. Meanwhile, the Middle East has been thriving in the heat for generations. These sun-soaked regions have learned to adapt and innovate under extreme conditions, and their strategies could be a game-changer for other countries battling the heat of climate change.

Comparing annual average temperatures since 1951–1980:
In 2020, the temperature was 2.9°C above normal.
In Madrid, summer lasts nearly five weeks longer on average than in the early 1980s.
The eruption of Krakatoa in 1883 led to a drop in average summer temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere by 0.4°C.
Since 1988, the average temperature in Dubai has increased by 1.21°C.
In 2020, the temperature was 2.9°C above normal.
In Madrid, summer lasts nearly five weeks longer on average than in the early 1980s.
The eruption of Krakatoa in 1883 led to a drop in average summer temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere by 0.4°C.
Since 1988, the average temperature in Dubai has increased by 1.21°C.
© 2024 Made by Urbi Atlas. Data: berkeleyearth.org

When we zoom in on urban landscapes, we start to see some surprising patterns in how cities handle the heat. A 2021 study by Qatar University compared Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Jeddah, Riyadh, Doha, Manama, Kuwait, and Muscat, finding that densely built areas can be several degrees cooler than surrounding bare land. This happens because buildings bounce sunlight away and create shade. Meanwhile, bare land soaks up sunlight like a sponge, heating up faster and staying hot longer.

How surface temperatures have changed in Dubai over 30 years:
+26 ºC
+57 ºC
Built-up areas
Built-up areas
The temperature drop is especially noticeable in areas with green spaces.
While bare land has become hotter, city temperatures have remained largely unchanged
© 2024 Made by Urbi Atlas. Data: usgs.gov

But here’s the twist: adding green spaces cools these urban hotspots even further, revealing a simple yet powerful tool in the fight against urban heat. Parks, green roofs, and other vegetation effectively reduce urban heat, providing a practical solution for the warming planet.

Why parks are
important

By 2020, the UAE’s green spaces had expanded to 1,741.3 km2.

Despite the common perception of the Middle East as a desert, the region has a deep cultural connection with its green spaces. With rising temperatures and limited water resources, people here recognise that expanding greenery is essential for survival.

His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Founding Father of the UAE, exemplified this by passionately preserving native desert trees and banning their cutting. For instance, the roads leading in and out of Al Ain, the fourth-largest city in the Emirates, were lined with drought-resistant desert trees. The UAE’s love for green spaces is no small affair—just look at Abu Dhabi’s 19-square-kilometre Mangrove National Park, home to 75% of the country’s mangroves. These mangroves protect the coast, standing firm against sea level rises and stormy weather brought on by climate change.

A recent study by the UAE University analysed vegetation changes over 50 years in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Al Ain using satellite images. Researchers found green spaces have grown 19-fold, from just 1,231 hectares in 1972 to over 23,000 hectares in 2021. Despite rapid urban growth, these cities have steadily increased their vegetation cover, thanks to government initiatives and environmental protection laws.

The progress is even more revealing when we look at the UAE in general. In 1975, there were 40.7 square kilometres of green spaces, according to the UAE’s Competitiveness and Statistics Centre. By 2020, this number had grown to 1,741.3 square kilometres—an impressive 43-fold increase.

Green space growth in Abu Dhabi since 1985:
© 2024 Made by Urbi Atlas. Data: geostat.fcsa.gov.ae

Why are green spaces important? Simply put, they help cool cities down. Satellite data clearly shows that urban parks significantly lower temperatures in their surroundings, providing much-needed relief in increasingly hot environments.

Wetlands can cool cities by 4.9°C, green walls by 4.1°C, and plant-covered balconies by 3.8°C.

A global review study by the University of Surrey revealed that botanical gardens can reduce temperatures on average by 5°C, while street trees can lower them by 3.8°C. Generally, larger parks offer greater cooling effects—and cities can even enhance these benefits by linking green spaces.

So, how does it work? Trees in cities cool things down in a few clever ways. They provide shade, keep footpaths from soaking up too much sunlight, and stop solar rays from turning into heat. The real magic happens through evaporation and transpiration—basically, trees and plants release water vapour into the air, which cools things off.

But here’s the catch: only well-watered plants do this effectively. Dry, non-irrigated greenery can’t cool the air and might even make things hotter. Hydration isn’t just crucial for humans—plants and trees need it too, to keep cities cool.

Green examples of
the Middle East

Masdar Park lowers surface temperatures by 2.2 °C thanks to its greenery.

We’ve discussed how parks can cool cities; now it’s time to see it in action. In Abu Dhabi, scientists used AI to analyse decades of satellite data, revealing that green spaces act like natural air conditioners. Masdar Park, for example, cools the area by 2.2°C, while Umm Al Emarat Park reduces temperatures by 1°C. A splash of greenery can significantly cut through urban heat.

But why stop there? Using Urbi technology, we mapped the cooling effects of Creek Park in Dubai, Salam Park in Riyadh, Aspire Park and Golf Club in Doha, and the oasis city of Al Ain. Let’s explore how these green islands make a difference.

© 2024 Made with Urbi Pro. Data: Urbi and usgs.gov

These visuals reveal how green spaces cool cities, turning parks into much-needed havens. We’re seeing more and more examples of new and expanding urban parks across the Middle East, showing that even a bit of greenery can transform cities into more comfortable places to live.

Envisioning
a greener future

10%

A 10% increase in vegetation can lower air temperatures by 2 °C.

The Middle East is greening up, with cities like Dubai, Sharjah, Doha, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, and others leading the charge. By 2040, the city plans to double its green cover and increase its protected areas and natural reserves by 60%. It’s all part of the grand vision, to turn this metropolis into an eco-friendly paradise.

Riyadh has a green game plan too. By 2030, the city wants to unleash a wave of green with 3,330 neighbourhood gardens, 43 parks, and 7.5 million trees. Imagine boosting green space per person from a tiny 1.7 square metres to a lush 28! Riyadh’s green revolution will ramp up the city’s green coverage from 1.5% to 9% and could cool the city down by up to 2°C.

Salam Park
By 2030, Riyadh’s park infrastructure will expand, creating more comfortable and accessible green spaces across the city.
© Adznano3/shutterstock.com

Speaking of cooling things down, researchers in 2024 studied ways to beat the heat in a neighbourhood in Riyadh. Their strategy? Use reflective materials on rooftops and ramp up irrigated greenery. This combo is expected to slash outdoor temperatures by 4.5°C in the summer and boost cooling energy efficiency by 16%. It’s all about making the city livable and refreshingly chill.

New urban forests
worldwide could support up to 240 billion trees.

Next time you stroll through a botanical garden or down a tree-lined boulevard, take a moment to appreciate the huge climate benefits these green spaces bring. But their perks don’t stop there. They also act as natural sponges, soaking up excess rainwater and helping to prevent floods. Plus, they offer a peaceful escape for city dwellers, boosting mental health and overall well-being. We’ll explore these benefits in future instalments. Don’t miss out—subscribe to our newsletter for all the updates!

This feature was developed using Urbi data and technology, including Urbi Pro, Urbi maps, road graphs, and traffic information. To learn how Urbi can enhance your projects, request a demo today!

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