Esmat A. Zaidan

• PhD. in Geography and Environmental Managment, University of Waterloo, Canada
• Professor (Associate) at Hamad bin Khalifa University

Over the past three decades, women’s participation in the labor market has experienced significant shifts, yet structural and institutional challenges persist. This study examines the evolving trends in women’s engagement in labor and business activities within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), emphasizing changes in legal, financial, and entrepr...

In the concluding chapter of this interdisciplinary exploration into the transformative journey of education in Qatar, we delve into a landscape characterized by significant ambition, challenge, and a commitment to a future that prioritizes culture, identity, and sustainability. These aims are outlined in the Qatar National Vision, which education...

This introduction delves into the multi-dimensional and dynamic nature of Qatar’s education policy and reforms, highlighting their connection to the country’s broader goals of economic diversification. It examines how Qatar navigates the delicate balance between globalized educational trends and local cultural values. This exploration provides insi...

With its in-depth investigation of the opportunities and obstacles facing the region, this book offers data-driven assessments and policy recommendations to guide the process of energy transition in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. It provides a comprehensive analysis of the current state of carbon reduction initiatives in the GCC and the...

Urbanization and land use changes, especially in arid environments, significantly impact local climate and energy demand. This study investigates the relationship between Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) changes, Land Surface Temperature (LST), and the carbon footprint (CF) from building energy consumption in Doha, Qatar. Specifically, the study addresse...

The rapid advancement and deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) poses significant regulatory challenges for societies. While it has the potential to bring many benefits, the risks of commercial exploitation or unknown technological dangers have led many jurisdictions to seek a legal response before measurable harm occurs. However, the lack of...

Innovation and the promotion of entrepreneurship are requirements of the transition towards knowledge-based economies. Universities are assigned a key role in advancing entrepreneurship through the restructuring of teaching, research, and governance with an emphasis on innovation and sustainability. In the Gulf region, universities are increasingly...

City planners are seeking ways to incorporate human-centric urban projects that combine smart technology, good infrastructure and people’s perception as well as their participation. Smart city developments are increasingly being applied to smaller scales at which communities can co-design hard infrastructure and the resulting services. Experiences...

The 2023 expansion of BRICS (hereafter BRICS+) has resulted in a flurry of journalistic and political narratives. These narratives span a spectrum, between perspectives that emphasize the continuity of the existing global order on the one end and those that note the dawn of a new era and the end of a unipolar world on the other. These discussions h...

Energy justice as a concept refers to the fair distribution of the benefits and burdens of energy production and consumption among different communities and individuals. The international community is currently attempting to achieve it through various means such as international law, the Sustainable Development Goals and the potential establishment...

The carbon footprint (CF) linked to electricity consumption in buildings has become a significant environmental issue because of its significant role in greenhouse gas emissions. This study seeks to assess and examine the CF of electricity consumption in buildings across various building types. Additionally, this paper aims to investigate the impac...

4 5 The emergence of Industry 4.0 marks a transformative era for businesses and industries, 6 characterized by advanced technologies like automation, Internet of Things (IoT), artificial 7 intelligence (AI), smart factories, and cyber-physical systems. This revolution promises significant 8 advantages, including enhanced productivity, sustainable p...

Community-level interventions through technological updates and connectedness are quite popular within smart city visions. These interventions, under the collective label of smart and connected communities (SCC), promise to increase technology access, services, and the sense of entrepreneurship and organization at the community level. This paper ad...

This chapter aims to explore the transformative role of higher education institutions (HEIs) in achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs) by balancing the scientific foundation and technology tools to transform their campuses into smart communities. It also aims to explore the long-term strategies adopted in academia and research to establ...

The achievement of smart urbanism and sustainable urbanism is one of the more prominent themes of the research on urban planning worldwide. Smart sustainable cities (SSCs) are rapidly impacting global debates about the future prospects of urban development. Despite several instances of the characteristics of a smart or sustainable city, a precise d...

The goal of this study is to use machine-learning (ML) techniques and empirical big data to examine the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on electricity usage and electricity demand forecasting accuracy in buildings in Qatar over time and across sectors. Furthermore, this study statistically investigates the relationship between building electrici...

In strategic energy planning, human-oriented factors are uncertain and lead to unpredictable challenges. Thus, decision-makers must contextualize the target society to address these uncertainties. More precisely, uncertainties lead to performance gaps between assumed and actual sustainability target outcomes. This study proposed a new framework tha...

Urban communities differ in their social, economic, and environmental characteristics, as well as in the approach to energy use. Dynamic energy use and available on-site resources allow interaction with the surroundings and contribute to the key performance indicators of smart cities. This study aimed at proposing systematically a strategic framewo...

This paper proposes a novel hierarchical optimization framework that couples the balancing problem of a community network with building energy management (BEM) to form an integrated model capable of capturing potential joint-flexibilities of connected buildings while co-optimizing the operation schedules of community-operated assets. The proposed f...

The use of Blockchain technology has recently become widespread. It has emerged as an essential tool in various academic and industrial fields, such as healthcare, transportation, finance, cybersecurity, and supply chain management. It is regarded as a decentralized, trustworthy, secure, transparent, and immutable solution that innovates data shari...

This article presents a novel architecture by integrating the existing asset management theory with building simulation technology for effective maintenance strategies and operational control schemes. Building performance, value and energy usage collectively define the criteria for optimization. Building assets are partially or fully connected with...

Policy Planning have the potential to contribute to the strategic development and economic diversification of developing countries even without considerable structural changes. In this study, we analyzed a set of human-oriented dimensions aimed at improving energy policies related to the building sector in Qatar. Considering the high percentage of...

Policy Planning have the potential to contribute to the strategic development and economic diversification of developing countries even without considerable structural changes. In this study, we analyzed a set of human-oriented dimensions aimed at improving energy policies related to the building sector in Qatar. Considering the high percentage of...

Human-oriented factors present unavoidable challenges and uncertainties in building energy strategic planning. The uncertainties escalate when the target society is not fully known to the decision-maker and can create performance gaps between the expected and actual outcomes of sustainability targets. This article aims to investigate the role of so...

Without major structural changes, social sciences can potentially bolster economic diversification and strategic planning efforts in developing countries. This article presents an analysis of a set of human-oriented dimensions to enhance energy policies associated with the building sector in developing countries with similarities to the Gulf Cooper...

Building energy consumption can be enhanced to a certain level, but human-oriented dimensions can open the doors to new opportunities. This article presents an assessment on the interactions between human-driven factors and energy consumption patterns in office buildings based on empirical evidence and a co-simulation. The objective of this work is...

Immunization of mission-critical facilities such as hospitals and first responders against power outages is crucial for the operators due to their significant value of the lost load, affecting citizens’ lives. This paper proposes a novel evaluating framework which enables facility operators to efficiently size and optimally dispatch their behind-th...

The impact of load growth on electricity peak demand is becoming a vital concern for utilities. To prevent the need to build new power plants or upgrade transmission lines, power companies are trying to design new demand response programs. These programs can reduce the peak demand and be beneficial for both energy consumers and suppliers. One of th...

Cooling systems play a key role in maintaining human comfort inside buildings. The key challenges that are facing conventional cooling systems are the rapid growth of total cooling energy and annual electricity consumption in commercial buildings. This is even more significant in countries with an arid climate, where the cooling systems are typical...

Cities of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region have harboured impressive architecture conveying modernity and affluence. GCC countries are increasingly reshaping the face of their urban areas through the development of futuristic planned cities. These cities are competing for labels that show design innovations and energy-efficient technologie...

The water-energy-food (WEF) nexus is the subject of much research focusing on different aspects, a wide range of issues, and development of a variety of models and tools. This study takes a different approach by developing a holistic framework that concentrates on the spatial elements of continuity and change associated with WEF transition on natio...

The significant predicament of sustainable urbanism in contemporary cities of the Gulf region is being addressed by developing policies designed to make cities safe, inclusive, resilient and sustainable. By examining the accessible planning documents, and based on the analysis of the ongoing world-class developments and megaprojects within the Gulf...

The water-energy-food (WEF) nexus is the subject of much research focusing on different aspects, a wide range of issues, and development of a variety of models and tools. This study takes a different approach by developing a holistic framework that concentrates on the spatial elements of continuity and change associated with WEF transition on natio...

This article presents a novel architecture by integrating the existing asset management theory with building simulation technology for effective maintenance strategies and operational control schemes. Building performance, value and energy usage collectively define the criteria for optimization. Building assets are partially or fully connected with...

he Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region and the wider Arab world are faced with multiple inter-connected dilemmas embedded in the social, economic, and environmental pillars of sustainable development. The question of how to design effective sustainability strategies that are aligned with the context of the GCC region is a relevant one. In this sp...

Urban theorists and policymakers are increasingly recognising the importance of integrating culture into urban development models. This article provides a critical assessment of Dubai’s integration of cultural planning in its approach to tourism development. It argues that western-influenced modernisation has side-lined indigenous creative resource...

Urban theorists and policy makers have begun to re-evaluate the significance of integrating culture into the urban development strategies. Within the present growing global interurban competition, a new approach to urban planning is required that takes into consideration the integration of the city into the global content and to highlight or create...

After decades of reluctance, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are now more engaged within the global sustainability agenda. Though they historically sought to coordinate strategies, differences in environmental diplomacy and participation modes currently exist. This article examines these differences and links diplomacy to political and...

This article analyses water, food, and energy security in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries using the water-energy-food (WEF) nexus approach. The innovative focus is on identifying past and future development-based drivers of water-energy-food integration in the region. The study presents a critical review of WEF nexus in the Gulf region...

The Hamad International Airport (HIA) in Doha, Qatar is the only international airport operating in the country. The airport was officially opened in 2014 to function as the engine of the country's economic growth. Due to the anticipated high passenger demand of this airport, especially to account for the 2022 FIFA World Cup and in support of Qatar...

The main goal of this study is to investigate the feasibility of implementing cordon pricing as a mitigation policy to curb traffic congestion in Abu Dhabi Island. Two research objectives are identified to address the research goal. First, this study examines the impact of cordon pricing on commuters’ travel behaviour based on their socio-economic...

This study examines the feasibility of implementing high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes in a Middle Eastern country to obtain an improved understanding of such a policy and how it may affect the behavior of travelers in this region. This study focuses on the relationship between travelers' willingness to pay (WTP) for HOT lanes and different factors, s...

This study examines the feasibility of implementing high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes in a Middle Eastern country to obtain an improved understanding of such a policy and how it may affect the behavior of travelers in this region. This study focuses on the relationship between travelers' willingness to pay (WTP) for HOT lanes and different factors, s...

Very few tourism geographers have investigated the way meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions (MICE) travelers search for information and their travel behavior based on cultural background and country of origin. In addition, little attention has been paid to examining the factors that affect MICE travelers' decisions to visit a certain...

The rapid development of tourism worldwide is giving rise to many anxieties about the actual as well as potentially negative consequences of tourism on host societies. However, despite such concerns, much of the academic research on tourism remains grounded in economic analysis with far less attention being paid to assessing the socio-cultural impa...

The rapid development of tourism worldwide is giving rise to many anxieties about the actual as well as potentially negative consequences of tourism on host societies. However, despite such concerns, much of the academic research on tourism remains grounded in economic analysis with far less attention being paid to assessing the socio-cultural impa...

Information and communications technology (ICT) are widely used by enterprises to enhance their competitiveness. Travel agents (TAs) are among service providers for whom their integration of ICT and Internet technological capabilities could be the best marketing device and a potential promoter for enhancing their competitive positioning in the tour...

This study discusses the importance of understanding cultural differences between tourists and hosts for developing positive cross-cultural tourist interaction and its influence on the host's perception of sociocultural impacts of tourism. A logistic regression model is used to identify the significant positive as well as negative impacts perceived...

This article examines the demand for Dubai tourism via a binary logit model, using its top source market, Saudi Arabia, as a case study. Saudi Arabia is a relatively mature tourism source market for Dubai, and the results produced should therefore be more representative than those of a sample drawn from any of Dubai's other tourism markets. The exp...

This study explores shopping tourism with a special focus on the concept of luxury shopping in Dubai from the perspective of the consuming tourists. The study assesses the differences in the perceived importance of luxury shopping venues in Dubai as well as the perceived characteristics of luxury products in Dubai retail. Also the perceived advanta...

Massive investments in newly built high-quality tourism attractions have made Dubai one of the world’s leading international tourist destinations and the fastest growing in the world. This chapter examines the strategies that should be developed by Dubai tourism planners to achieve the ‘Dubai Tourism Vision 2020’ of attracting 20 million visitors a...

The objective of this study is to examine whether the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) is moving toward or away from sustainable transportation through exploring the spatial and temporal changes of urban form and travel behavior, related policies and responses to these changes during the period between 1986 and 2006. Transportation services and infrastru...

This study highlights the effect of immigrant workers on the unprecedented demographic growth in the UAE, which has become one of the highest in the world. The population of the UAE has octupled in 30 years, from 0.5 million in 1975 to 4 million in 2005, leading to a serious demographic imbalance. Using the topical approach, this study investigates...

Tourism has been and continues to be an important source of income for many countries in the world. This study explores the concept of shopping in Dubai tourism and identifies the perceived important characteristics of Dubai as a shopping destination, as well as tracing the factors or the competitive advantages of Dubai as a shopping destination fo...

The aim of this paper is to tackle the demographic and spatial changes which took place in Palestine since the middle of 19 th century to present. Throughout the last 160 years Palestine witnessed several waves of foreign immigrants whose settlements were diffused starting from coast toward interior parts of Palestine. Other foreign settlers were i...

The study reveals that the social connections of the second generation with the homeland facilitated by technological advances have resulted in the transnational nature of Palestinian Canadians of second generation, as they are more familiar with these technologies than the first generation. It also reveals that social contexts, such as the family...

Increased urban diversity in the metropolises of North America urges us to examine the different forms of mobility of transnational communities in cosmopolitan societies. Recent technological advancements, including developments in transport and communication networks, have significantly influenced participation in transnational activities and belo...