Doha is not DubaiFrom Dubaization to Dohaization: A Critical Narrative of Gulf

Urbanity

With unprecedented financial resources and political commitment, Qatar is constructing a new urban and development brand which would be disseminated within the Gulf and the Middle East. Dohaization is a brand but also a continuous dynamic process. The critical narrative of constructing such a brand is the focus of this Talk. Apparently, during the last decade, Qatar managed to engrave a niche in the global stage. As a result of its position in the global energy market, the country is going through massive expansion and has the resources to support this growth. In this talk, signs of a well-planned process for building Qatar’s new assembled identity and urban brand will be interrogated. Such interrogation will be contextualized within the development of contemporary Gulf cities. Additionally, I will interpret and analyze the process of constructing such a brand; Dohaization.

About the Speaker

Ali Aز Alraouf, Ph.DProf. of Architecture and UrbanismHead of CB, Research & Development – QNMP.Doha, Qataralialraouf@yahoo.comalialraouf@gmail.comhttp://analchemyofarchitecture.blogspot.com/http://qu.academia.edu/AliAlraouf

Overview Ali A. Alraouf, Ph.D., M. Arch., B. SC. Ali A. Alraouf, born in Cairo, Egypt is an architect, urban designer and planner interested in research and practice related to architectural, urban and comprehensive sustainable design and planning. He is focusing on researches within the domain of theory, criticism and creativity in architecture, urbanism and planning theories. He Holds a Ph.D. in architecture (1996) from Cairo University-Egypt and University of California at Berkeley-USA (Joint academic supervision), a Master of architecture (1991), and a Bachelor of architecture (1986) from Cairo University. He was a Visiting Scholar at Center for Environmental Design Research at University of California at Berkeley-USA (1993-1995). Alraouf has held permanent and visiting teaching and research positions at Cairo University, 6th October University, Fayoum, Modern Sciences and Arts University (MSA), High Institute of Architecture, University of Bahrain and Qatar University. Alraouf is a founder and Principal of Environmental design Group (EDG), a consultancy firm, based in Cairo, working in a variety of projects and buildings. Since Fall 2004, Alraouf becomes a full-time educator and researcher in the Gulf; he maintained a dynamic level of professional engagement through design competitions and consultancies. Throughout his practice, various competition entries earned prizes, honorable mentions and were selected for public exhibitions. Alraouf’s current research interests are: Contemporary architectural education, The place of children in contemporary Arab cities, Sustainable architecture and urbanism, Urban vitalization of historical districts, The Impact of globalization on the built environment, Traditional smart buildings, Knowledge cities and contemporary Gulf cities’ urbanism. Alraouf writes extensively in newspapers, periodicals and architectural magazines locally and internationally. He published more than 80 journal refereed papers, critical reviews, essays, in addition to books and book chapters. He is the recipient of innovation award in environmental and sustainable planning from Ministry of scientific research in Egypt 2000, Modern Science and Arts University (MSA) Teaching Excellence Award 2004, Best Research Paper in Sharjah International Conference for Urban Planning 2008 and Research Publication Achievement Award from University of Bahrain 2009. Alraouf was selected as member of 2012 Excel campaign at Qatar University. He is currently heading the research, development and training at Qatar National Master Plan, Ministry of Urban Planning.