Reading Response: Challenges and Solutions for GCC Urbanization (2024)

This reading response analyzes an article focusing on the challenges of sustainable urbanization in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states. The author highlights the rapid population growth, primarily in urban areas, and the associated social, economic, political, and environmental issues. The report emphasizes the need for combined efforts from GCC governments, private stakeholders, and the public to address challenges such as population growth, housing shortages, water scarcity, urban mobility issues, and high energy consumption. The response agrees with the main argument, advocating for policy changes, diversification, and investments in alternative solutions. It also suggests that the article could have included discussion on the environmental impacts of oil production and specific policy examples. The response suggests considering case studies of cities or countries that have overcome similar challenges.

Running head: READING RESPONSE
READING RESPONSE
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READING RESPONSE 2
Reading Response
The authors of this article focused on highlighting some of the major problems associated with
urbanization in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states and the challenges towards achieving
sustainable urbanization in the region. They did so by discussing the rapid population growth of
the region from about 8 million in 1970 to over 40 million in 2010, out of which nearly 70% live
in urban areas (Ramadan, 2015). According to the authors, there are numerous social, economic,
political and environmental issues that GCC governments must deal with diligently so as to
promote and achieve sustainable development in the region. Therefore numerous strategies and
policies must be formulated for the region to achieve sustainable development.
The main argument of the article is that radical changes must be prompted for GCC
countries to achieve sustainable development, which is mainly affected by the increasing
population in the region. This requires combined efforts by GCC governments, private
stakeholders and the public (Issa & Al Abbar, 2015). The authors have identified some of the
main challenges towards achieving sustainable development in the region, including: increased
population growth due to high migration to the region, housing challenges, water resources
shortage, urban mobility and public transportation challenge, and high energy consumption. All
these challenges are mainly caused, driven or escalated by the increased population in the region.
This population mainly comprises of the local residents and migrant labourers. The authors have
discussed these issues using a wide range of data, such as population statistics of GCC countries,
number of migrant employees in the GCC states, percentage of registered vehicles in GCC
countries, road networks in the region, number of accidents and fatalities in the region,
percentage of youth population, water consumption per capita, average electricity production
cost and selling price per kWh, energy demand and carbon emissions in GCC countries.

READING RESPONSE 3
I totally agree with the main argument in this article because sustainable development can
only be attained if prevailing challenges and problems are solved. This requires joint efforts by
GCC governments in formulating policies and regulatory frameworks that will promote
sustainable development. Some of the issues that these governments should focus on are
reducing or controlling urban migration and continuing to diversity and explore or invest in
alternative solutions (El Mahmah & Kandil, 2019), such as nuclear and renewable energy, waste
recycling and waste reclamation. Proper plans should be put in place to educate and train local
citizens so as to minimize influx of migrant laborers and this will help to reduce urban
population.
One important point that the authors missed is discussing the environmental impacts of
oil exploration and production activities in the region. It is know that the largest percentage of
GDP in GCC countries is contributed by oil production, which also account for the largest
percentage of carbon emissions and environmental degradation. It would have been better if the
authors provided statistics of carbon emissions resulting from oil production activities. The
authors also missed to mention some of the policies (if any) that GCC governments have
formulated to promote sustainable development, and the issue of climate change in the region.
A different way of thinking about the issues raised by the authors is proposing specific
actions that can be taken or solutions for each of the problems and/or challenges that the authors
have raised. This can be done by using case studies of cities or countries that had similar
problems and challenges but managed to overcome them.

READING RESPONSE 4
Works Cited
El Mahmah, A., & Kandil, M. (2019). Fiscal sustainability challenges in the new normal of low oil prices:
Empirical evidence from GCC countries. International Journal of Development Issues, 18(1), 109-
134.
Issa, N., & Al Abbar, S. (2015). Sustainability in the Middle East: achievements and challenges.
International Journal of Sustainable Building Technology and Urban Development, 6(1), 34-38.
Ramadan, E. (2015). Sustainable Urbanization in the Arabian Gulf Region: Problems and Challenges. Arts
and Social Sciences Journal, 6(2), 1-4.