Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), formalized by Calthorpe and Poticha in 1993, emerged to counter urban sprawl, reduce car dependency, and revitalize historical community centers. Rooted in “new urbanism”, TOD emphasizes integrated regional land-use planning and high-capacity public transportation. In the Middle East, TOD implementation remains understudied, particularly regarding heritage integration and social equity in arid climates. Doha’s rapid social and economic transformation presents both opportunities and risks: growth offers urban revitalization yet threatens to displace communities and dilute cultural identity. Shifts in urban planning have aimed to address sustainability, connectivity, and heritage preservation. This study examines Msheireb Downtown Doha (MDD) to assess how TOD can restore historic districts while managing gentrification, enhancing accessibility and promoting inclusiveness. A mixed-methods approach was applied, including 12 semi-structured interviews with stakeholders (Qatar Rail, Msheireb Properties, Ministry of Municipality and Environment), purposive surveys of 80 urban users, site observations, and spatial mapping. Using the Node-Place-People (NPP) model, the study evaluates TOD effectiveness across transportation connectivity (node), built environment quality (place), and equity metrics (people). The findings show that MDD successfully implements fundamental TOD principles through its design, which enhances connectivity, walkability, social inclusiveness, and heritage preservation. However, multiple obstacles remain: the “peripheral island effect” limits benefits to the core, pedestrian–vehicular balance is unresolved, and commercial gentrification is on the rise. This research provides evidence-based knowledge for GCC cities pursuing sustainable urban regeneration by demonstrating both the advantages of TOD and the necessity for critical, context-sensitive implementation that focuses on social equity together with physical transformation.

Purpose: This study aims to investigate how neighbourhood layout typologies impact residents' social well-being in Doha, Qatar, addressing the limited empirical evidence in rapidly urbanizing Middle Eastern contexts and focusing on urban form elements critical for quality of life. Design/methodology/approach: A mixed-methods approach was employed across six distinct Doha neighbourhoods selected for varied spatial typologies (grid, loop and cul-de-sac). Methodologies included structured interviews, systematic observations, questionnaire surveys and space syntax analysis. Findings: Spatial attributes such as proximity, connectivity and visual integration significantly influence residents' social interactions, perceived safety and privacy levels with higher integration values (average Rn = 0.646), fostered stronger social networks (average 21 known neighbours) and higher perceptions of safety. Conversely, cul-de-sacs with lower connectivity and integration (average Rn = 0.429), limited pedestrian activity, restricted social networks (average 13 known neighbours) and raised privacy concerns, reflecting Qatar's privacy-centric cultural norms. The study reveals a tension where design features promoting connectivity sometimes conflict with deep-seated needs for privacy. Research limitations/implications: The findings highlight the critical need for context-sensitive urban design. While the study provides valuable insights, generalizability may be limited by its focus on specific neighbourhoods in Doha and winter observations; further research across seasons and more diverse contexts is implied. Social implications: This research demonstrates how specific neighbourhood designs directly affect community social health by shaping opportunities for interaction, influencing perceptions of safety and impacting residents' experience of culturally specific privacy needs. Originality/value: This study provides novel empirical evidence on the interplay between urban form and social well-being within the under-researched Qatari context. It offers culturally and climatically nuanced insights to guide sustainable urban development, challenging a direct application of Western urban design theories like New Urbanism and demonstrating the need to integrate socio-cultural factors into space syntax models.

Health and wellbeing have been key considerations in designing sustainable environments. However, most research on built environments and wellbeing has been conducted in Western communities, with very little research in the context of Middle Eastern countries. This study aims to fill the gap by investigating the impact of the residential built environment on social wellbeing in the cultural context of Doha, the capital of Qatar. The research studied six neighbourhoods in Doha. The investigation used subjective and objective methods such as interviews and spatial models (space syntax), complemented by questionnaires and an observation survey. The data were analysed separately; however, they are thematically discussed in this research. The findings of this research broadly support the work of other studies in this area, linking public spaces with the inhabitants’ casual interactions. However, this research found that some uses have a higher impact than others. In Doha, mosques significantly influenced inhabitants’ social interaction, especially men. The social relationships between neighbours were maintained in private spaces – Majles-. Majles had low integration with other spaces in the dwelling, which ensures household privacy. Based on the findings of this investigation, recommendations are made and guidelines developed for future residential developments in Qatar and the surrounding region to ensure the social wellbeing of communities.

Introduction: Rapid urbanization in hot-arid, car-dependent cities challenges the widely accepted assumption that urban density inherently promotes public health. While higher residential density is often associated with increased physical activity and improved health outcomes in Western contexts, its effects in cities such as Doha, Qatar, remain insufficiently understood. This study examines the relationship between residential density, environmental quality, and health outcomes in Doha’s rapidly developing urban environment. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a mixed-methods approach that triangulated self-reported health and quality-of-life data collected through the SF-36 survey (N = 301), clinical records on non-communicable disease (NCD) prevalence obtained from Primary Health Care Corporations, and geospatial analyses of land use patterns and urban infrastructure across three residential zones in Doha. Associations between residential density, environmental conditions, and health indicators were examined. Results: Residential density was found to be differentially associated with health outcomes. Higher-density environments were associated with improved mental health and functional well-being; however, they were also associated with higher prevalence of non-communicable diseases and increased body mass index. These patterns appear to be influenced by contextual factors including inadequate pedestrian infrastructure, exposure to extreme heat, and limited climate-responsive urban design. The findings were particularly evident among vulnerable population groups engaged in necessity-driven walking. Discussion and conclusions: The results demonstrate that density alone is not a sufficient predictor of positive health outcomes in hot-arid urban environments. Environmental quality and the provision of climate-responsive infrastructure appear to play a more important role in shaping public health outcomes than density itself. The study highlights the need for urban planning and public health policies that move beyond densification strategies and prioritize walkability, thermal comfort, and high-quality urban environments to support NCD prevention and healthier lifestyles in rapidly developing cities.

Background : Research on associations between the built environment (BE) and health has expanded globally, but evidence from Gulf Cooperation Council countries remains fragmented. Objective : To systematically synthesize and critically appraise evidence on associations between BE attributes and health-related outcomes in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. Methods : Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 guidelines, Web of Science and Scopus were searched for peer-reviewed studies published between January 2000 and May 2024. Eligible studies quantitatively examined associations between BE attributes and health-related outcomes among Gulf Cooperation Council populations. Two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed methodological quality and risk of bias. Due to heterogeneity in BE measures, health outcomes, and study designs, findings were synthesized narratively. Results : Of 371 records identified, 79 studies met the inclusion criteria. Nearly all were cross-sectional (n = 78), with only one longitudinal study. Evidence supported positive associations between neighborhood accessibility (eg, walking and cycling infrastructure, destination proximity, and public transport access) and land-use characteristics (eg, mixed use and green/open spaces) with physical activity, walkability, and quality of life. Car-oriented urbanization, extreme heat, and sociocultural constraints, particularly gender-related barriers to recreation, emerged as important contextual factors. Evidence linking BE attributes to dietary behaviors, chronic disease outcomes, and mental health was limited and generally of low certainty. Conclusion : Accessibility, land use, thermal environment, and urban form appear associated with health-related behaviors and outcomes in the Gulf Cooperation Council. However, methodological limitations constrain causal inference, highlighting the need for longitudinal and policy evaluation studies to inform healthy-city planning in hot-arid environments.