The Transformation of Housing Typologies in Dubai: From Pre-Oil to Post-Oil Era

Student Report (2025)
Author(s)

D. Alkassas (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)

Contributor(s)

A.J. Oxenaar – Mentor (TU Delft - History, Form & Aesthetics)

Faculty
Architecture and the Built Environment
More Info
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Publication Year
2025
Language
English
Graduation Date
17-04-2025
Awarding Institution
Delft University of Technology
Project
['AR2A011', 'Architectural History Thesis']
Programme
['Architecture, Urbanism and Building Sciences']
Faculty
Architecture and the Built Environment
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Abstract

This thesis examines the transformation of Emirati housing in Dubai from the pre-oil era to the present, analyzing how housing typologies evolved in response to social, economic, and cultural shifts following the discovery of oil. Through a comparative spatial analysis of Arish, Barajeel, Sha‘bi houses, and modern villas, the study investigates the extent to which these transformations align with traditional Emirati cultural values. By highlighting the tensions between modernization and cultural preservation, this research contributes to the understanding of how architecture both shapes and reflects identity in a rapidly developing society.

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