Synergizing urban and mobility governance: Insights from Dubai and Lahore

Urban centers in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and South Asian (SA) regions face challenges like urban sprawl, low-density development, and heavy investment in road infrastructure, worsened by fragmented governance and political instability. This study adopts a qualitative approach, utilizing semi-structured interviews with decision-makers in Dubai and Lahore, to identify and analyze key factors influencing urban management and mobility governance. Grounded theory is applied to compare the distinct governance challenges, policy priorities, and strategic planning approaches of the two cities. Key findings show that that Dubai immensely benefits from effective decision-making, a clear strategic vision, long-term transport planning, and structured program implementation. In contrast, Lahore grapples with overlapping roles among multiple planning agencies, delays in Master Plan approvals, and weak implementation frameworks, all of which contribute to uncontrolled horizontal expansion and a road-centric development model. This paper advances the urban governance literature by proposing a conceptual governance framework and a maturity model offering actionable insights for developing cities striving for more sustainable and equitable urban mobility. Lessons from Dubai's Urban Governance: • Dubai's exemplary decision-making processes, strategic transport planning, and successful program implementation can be a model for urban governance excellence. • Actionable insights from Dubai's experience offer valuable lessons for decision-makers, planners and policymakers globally to enhance urban governance frameworks. Governance Challenges in Lahore: • The governance challenges in Lahore focus on issues such as political instability, overlapping institutional roles, delayed decision-making, and unclear policy priorities. • Potential obstacles in urban and mobility governance, as highlighted by Lahore's experiences, provide a cautionary tale for other emerging cities aiming to improve their governance models. Framework for Sustainable Urban Ecosystems: • A conceptual governance framework and maturity model are suggested based on insights from Dubai and Lahore, aimed at fostering efficient, sustainable, and inclusive urban and mobility ecosystems. • A practical roadmap is introduced for cities to implement integrated governance approaches, highlighting the importance of sustainability, inclusivity, and strategic planning in urban development.