Sustainable Neighborhood Assessment: Evaluating Residential Sustainability in Sharjah City's Old Neighborhoods Using the UN-Habitat's Sustainable Neighborhood Principles

Abstract

Neighborhood sustainability plays a fundamental role in preserving the city for population growth and future expansion. It also plays a significant role in reducing urban sprawl, one of the main issues facing rapidly growing cities. Ideal sustainable neighborhood planning should address the three sustainability dimensions: environmental, economic, and social sustainability. This paper aims to assess the urban sustainability of the Al Nasseriya neighborhood in Sharjah City according to the UN-Habitat's five principles of sustainable neighborhoods. The strategy depends on investigative procedures utilizing information examination, site visits, and data analysis. Conventionally, the study is based on the UN-Habitat's guidelines on practical neighborhoods that state that neighborhoods should be minimal, coordinated, and associated. They suggest a quantitative analysis scope as a maintainability investigation of neighborhoods using five primary administrators: an effective road network, high-density population, mixed land uses, social blending, and limited land-use specializations. The assessment shows that Sharjah's physical urban context has several shortcomings related to the UN-Habitat's criteria that should be addressed. The results of the study demonstrate the critical issues affecting urban sustainability practice in the study area. Finally, urban improvement guidelines are recommended to advance development and amplify proficiency.