Abu Dhabi and the pandemic crisis. The Covid-19 response as an opportunity towards a new social condition

Abstract

The Covid-19 pandemic is ongoing with countries and cities reacting in different ways. Abu Dhabi is considered a success story, as it managed to flatten the curves, minimize casualties and still display a sense of confidence over citizens. However, it is argued that Covid-19 and the lockdown measures have revealed structural weaknesses of the city’s textbook urbanism, including social segregation, lack of inclusive architecture, poor public space management and an increased sense of temporality. Consequently, questions on the post Covid-19 condition start being raised. In this light, all exposed drawbacks should become key in responding and thus setting a paradigm shift for the new cities in the Gulf and beyond.