How urban shade helps cool cities

See the World Through the Lens of Data

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Dubai. Watch shadows shift across Downtown Dubai in mid-December as the sun moves through the day, with Burj Khalifa’s shadow stretching over 8 km just before sunset.

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It starts slowly—a rise in temperature, a bit more heat reflecting off the pavement, a little more sweat. But soon, the heat builds, and the city itself becomes a furnace. This is the reality facing many urban areas today, and as the planet warms, it’s only getting worse.

A study of 25 major cities, from Berlin to Buenos Aires, found that rising urban heat affects everyone, but some neighbourhoods bear the brunt more than others. Areas without trees suffer the most, making the heat unbearable for everyone, though low-income communities are often the hardest impacted. Even wealthier areas with parks and shaded streets feel the heat—the lack of sun protection becomes a problem in every city corner.

The Middle East endures some of the highest temperatures on the planet, with relentless sunny days pushing cities to their limits. In Dubai, heat remains a year-round challenge, while summer temperatures often exceed 40°C. Dubai experiences 3580 hours of sunshine each year, surpassing cities like Rome, which sees around 2,470 hours. Other cities also struggle to cope with the rising temperatures and constant sunlight.

Globally, Dubai ranks high in daily sunshine hours:

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Dubai’s average monthly temps:

Architects and urban planners seek ways to lower heat stress, from designing reflective buildings to creating narrow streets that funnel cooler air. In the Middle East, extreme climate drives innovation, offering a potential blueprint for cities worldwide as they grapple with rising temperatures. By 2050, two-thirds of the world’s population will live in cities, which means more people will feel the impact of increasing urban heat. One of the simplest and most effective ways to cool things down is by adding more shade to our cities—an urgent solution that can protect everyone.

Here comes the shade

Standing in the shade can feel up to 20°C cooler than in the sun.

Shade is a natural defence against heat. It works by blocking ultraviolet and visible light, which causes most of the discomfort. It also keeps surfaces from absorbing and releasing heat, cooling the ground and reducing the overall heat. Multiple studies reveal that standing in the shade can make you feel up to 10–20°C cooler than being out in the sun, whether you’re in a desert, temperate zone, or tropical climate. Shade is a simple yet powerful way to beat the heat, no matter where you are.

How shade lowers temperatures

62°C

In July 2024, Dubai’s “feels like” temperature hit 62°C.

Take Dubai, for example. During an extreme heatwave in July 2024, the temperature hit 43^oC, with a scorching “feels like” temperature of 62^oC. Yet, stepping into the shade brought the experience closer to the actual air temperature, offering a break from the intense heat. A study in Dubai found that pedestrians could tolerate temperatures of 43^oC to 47^oC for short walks if air-conditioned spaces were available at both ends, while shaded areas reduce ground temperatures by 9–15^oC.

Shade offers more than just comfort. Without it, people face dangerously high temperatures, leading to serious health risks like heatstroke, dehydration, or heart problems. Older people, children, and outdoor workers are especially vulnerable, making shade essential for protecting public health.

Historically, shade was a key element in urban design, particularly in traditional Middle Eastern architecture. Cities were built with narrow streets, shaded courtyards, and overhanging balconies to cool the environment and shield residents from the intense heat.

Over time, however, the rise of air conditioning and increasing reliance on cars shifted the focus away from these natural cooling methods. As a result, modern urban planning has often overlooked shade. Today, walking along busy streets, waiting at bus stops, or visiting playgrounds shows how sun protection is frequently under-prioritised in city design.

Meet Ahmed, a dedicated father and hardworking professional navigating Dubai’s daily rhythm.

Curious about shade’s role in extreme heat? Check out our downtown Dubai walk visualisation:

Morning walk to the nursery

8:10–8:25

At 8:10, Ahmed walks his son to the nursery. It’s already 32°C, but most of their route is shaded, relieving the heat.

Shadow profile

1.3 km

90% shade

Commute to work

8:30–8:45

Afterwards, he heads to work at Marina Plaza. There’s a shorter shaded route, but he detours since no staircase connects the bridge to the waterfront.

Shadow profile

1.1 km

62% shade

Lunchtime escape

12:05–12:15

By lunchtime, the temperature hits 36°C. Dubai Marina Mall is a short walk away, so Ahmed heads there for lunch and a quick business meeting in an air-conditioned space.

Shadow profile

0.4 km

55% shade

Afternoon pickup

16:05–16:15

At the end of the day, he picks up his son. Most of the walk is under the sun, leaving him drenched in sweat by the time he arrives.

Shadow profile

1.0 km

60% shade

Evening return home

16:20–16:35

On the way home, Ahmed takes a different route with more shade, making the walk much more comfortable.

Shadow profile

1.4 km

80% shade

Cities were once designed to stay cool, featuring narrow streets, overhangs, and shaded courtyards that protected people from the sun. Bringing shade back into focus could make urban life more comfortable and sustainable in a warming world. By strategically placing shade elements—like trees, canopies, and awnings—we can reduce direct sunlight on buildings, sidewalks, and streets. These methods minimise heat absorption, lower energy consumption, and create cooler environments without relying solely on air conditioning.

Carry that shade

Productivity in the shade is over 80% higher than in the sun, according to researchers.

So, what exactly can we do? To tackle climate change effectively, cities must treat shade as essential infrastructure—just like energy, water, and transport. For businesses, seeking shade is crucial—it not only lowers cooling costs and improves worker productivity but also makes public spaces more inviting for customers. Urban centres should adopt a comprehensive approach, incorporating trees, canopies, shade sails, and smart building layouts to create more liveable spaces.

Architects in Dubai orient structures away from the sun, use wind patterns to enhance natural ventilation, reduce the use of glass, and include elements of traditional Islamic architecture to create shade. Narrow streets and courtyards have helped generations cope with searing heat. These age-old techniques help keep buildings comfortable, reducing the need for energy-intensive cooling systems.

As cities heat up, clever shade solutions make public spaces cooler. From trees to innovative canopies, there are plenty of ways to beat the heat while enhancing the urban environment.

Sun-shading structures

Street trees. Street trees are a classic example. Their leafy canopies provide natural cooling for streets, parks, and walkways. Not only do they offer shade as they grow, but they also release moisture into the air, making the surrounding area noticeably cooler.

Shade sails. Another clever solution comes in the form of shade sails. These fabric covers, stretched between anchor points, block sunlight while allowing air to flow freely underneath. Perfect for plazas, playgrounds, and outdoor seating areas, shade sails are a flexible, stylish way to cool down public spaces.

Parasol umbrellas. In addition to permanent structures, large adjustable parasols provide flexible options for creating shaded areas in cafés, parks, and outdoor seating. They can be easily repositioned to follow the sun, keeping people comfortable throughout the day.

Kinetic shade structures. These structures feature moving parts, like adjustable panels or wings, that automatically shift to block the sun’s rays based on its position. For example, a retractable roof can reinterpret traditional adaptive building elements with movable, membrane-covered shading panels.

Solar canopies. With its 2040 Master Plan outlining steps to mitigate the urban heat island effect through shaded soft mobility routes, Dubai seamlessly blends traditional designs with innovative solutions. For instance, solar canopies provide both shade and renewable energy. Often used over car parks and walkways, they are a practical way to lower temperature while producing clean power.

A standout example is the Terra Pavilion at Dubai’s Expo City. Inspired by the drought-resistant Ghaf Tree, this angled, oval-shaped structure is covered with over 1,000 solar panels. Along with 18 rotating Energy Trees, the canopy is designed to generate 4 gigawatt hours of electricity each year while offering much-needed shade for visitors. After Expo 2020, it became a symbol of sustainability, driving eco-friendly innovations and community initiatives.

93 km

By 2040, Dubai will get The Loop, a 93-km sustainable pathway.

In the future, Dubai will offer even more sun cover with The Loop, a 93-km sustainable pathway set to connect neighbourhoods by 2040. Designed for walking and cycling, it will allow residents to reach their destinations within 20 minutes. Shaded running tracks with kinetic paving will generate electricity from footsteps. Meanwhile, digital twins, virtual models of cities, offer a game-changing tool for urban planners. By simulating urban shade, they can help cities pinpoint heat risks and protect vulnerable areas before problems arise.

Not all solutions need to be high-tech. At the heart of the Mosque of the Late Mohamed Abdulkhaliq Gargash in Dubai’s Al Quoz district is a shaded courtyard featuring a perforated metal canopy. This space provides relief from the heat as worshippers move through to the ablution area, lobby, and prayer hall.

Focusing on shade allows cities to counter rising temperatures, reduce social inequities, improve public health, and enhance urban comfort. In a warming world, prioritising shade offers a path to a better future.

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

Published:

10 December 2024

A cool fix for hot cities

Here comes the shade

Carry that shade

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