Document Type

Research Project

Publication Date

Fall 9-25-2025

Abstract

With 10% of the world’s population living in low-level coastal areas that are highly prone to erosion, they are in the midst of the climate conversation (McGranahan et al., 2007). Coastal cities in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (MEASA) are increasingly exposed to climate-induced risks such as rising sea levels, extreme heat, and climate disasters. This paper examines two very contrasting pathways of adaptation. The first being Lusail City in Qatar, which is Qatar’s second largest city, built with the purpose of becoming a smart sustainability hub incorporating advanced engineering and digital infrastructure. Throughout the paper we slowly transition to comparing Lusail with Stone Town in Zanzibar, a UNESCO settlement that heavily uses culture-based and nature-based resilience strategies. Through a comparative analysis, the paper evaluates the strengths and limitations of each model, highlighting Lusail’s high-capital technological solutions alongside Stone Town’s nature-based financially tight solutions. The conclusion pushes a hybrid approach that blends high-tech urban planning with traditional nature-based practices to fairly balance equity and sustainability in urban coastal regions. Therefore, the recommendations mentioned focus on cross-cultural knowledge exchange to enable coastal cities across the MEASA region to adapt effectively financially and efficiently to the accelerating impacts of climate change.

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