'Build Back Better' or 'Business as Usual'? Notes on a Post-Covid Urbanization Paradigm in the Arab World and Beyond

Abstract

As the world's metropolitan centres are slowly entering into what has been described as a post-Covid urbanization paradigm, a number of international organizations, consultancies and think tanks have been vocal in suggesting that we have an opportunity to 'build back Better'. Yet many critics have pointed out that such approaches are in fact nothing but a reconstitution of pre-pandemic agendas that ultimately will result in exclusionary measures by catering for a select few at the expense of the many. This essay reflects on these matters by providing a brief overview of changes that have taken place worldwide, and exploring the extent to which the pandemic has impacted urban research. The discussion then turns to the Arab world. To that end some of the ongoing projects in two major cities in the region – Cairo and Riyadh – are examined in detail to understand how they constitute a continuation of conventional practices and how they may result in gentrification. Ultimately the aim is to highlight that we are faced with a truly unique opportunity to re-configure our cities to be more humane and responsive to people's needs and that we should not succumb to the allure of financial profit by reconstituting and revamping old agendas.