Author(s)

M. Haggag & K. Hadjri

Abstract

This paper aims at investigating some of the important features affecting the planning and transformation of urban residential patterns, focusing on availability and accessibility of serviced land on the one hand, and the characteristics of the households and the level of their wealth on the other. The study is concerned with the main factors affecting residential distribution patterns, including land value, transportation cost, and characteristics of the city structure. The study examines the current and future trends of the residential mosaic in Al-Ain city as a unique case study because of the new phenomena caused by the relationship between the post-independence urban development and modern urban planning approaches implemented in the United Arab Emirates. The paper highlights some of the key issues that are emerging as a result of the socio-economic and cultural changes of Al-Ain city. In addition, the study aims to understand the spatial configuration of key factors such as population and household structures, income distribution, social and cultural requirements, and physical and institutional constraints. Keywords: urban transformation, residential pattern, land value, transportation cost, Al-Ain city. 1 Introduction Urban populations utilize built space for different purposes, of which housing constitutes the largest part, and may account for over 25 percent of household expenditure [1]. Urban residential structure is not restricted to the result of the interplay between housing demand and supply, but is also shaped by other attributes, such as household characteristics. The household is assumed to find its

Keywords

urban transformation, residential pattern, land value, transportation cost, Al-Ain city.