Effects of Globalism in Doha Qatar Today Essay

Qatar is one of the Middle East countries blessed with an abundant supply of oil, a commodity of high value in the world market. The economic resources mobilized from these oil reserves have been pumped into various sectors of the economy to spur growth and development in the urban centers of the country, especially in Doha. This has placed the country in a path towards modernization through various structural, architectural, and cultural changes. Globalism has enable the city of Doha to plan itself by absorbing the cultural aspects of foreign communities while retaining a unique identity for the city. The effect of this globalism can be felt in the planning of Doha as a city, its art, and architecture.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

The Qatari population has been financially empowered by the vast oil resources such that the majority of them are flocking in their droves to urban centers. This has led to a rapid urban growth in Doha that has necessitated the local authorities to think outside the box and adopt strategic city planning. Part of the city plans revolve around a structured pattern of land use where the city is putting up structures that maximize the use of land. That is why the city is awash with skyscrapers meant to offer as much space as possible to allow the bulging urban population to conduct their business effectively. These structures have seen a general shift in architectural designs that pull in investors in the city due to the beautiful designs of the various buildings erected in Doha.

The tectonic shift brought about by globalism is also evident in the cultural arts within the city. Traditional cultures are now competing with foreign elements that are gradually shaping the identity of Doha. There are various centers offering Tango as a form of artistic music that was previously unheard of in the city. The city of Doha in Qatar is clearly on an urban planning strategy geared towards pursuing modernity that will be fused with the city's Arabic cultural identity.

Bibliography

Florian Wiedmann, Alan Thierstein & Ashraf M. Salam, Urban Evolution of the City of Doha: The Impact of Economic Transformations on Urban Structures; METU Journal of the Faculty of Architecture December 2012, 29(2):35-61. doi: 10.4305/METU.JFA.2012.2.2

Furlan R, Modern and Vernacular Settlements in Doha: An Urban Planning Strategy to Pursue Modernity and Consolidate Cultural Identity; Arts Social Sciences Journal 2016, 7: 171. doi:10.4172/2151-6200.1000171

Maryam Al Suwaidi & Raffaello Furlan2, The role of public art and culture in new urban environments: The case of Katara Cultural Village in Qatar; Architecture Research 2017, 7(4): 109-122. doi: 10.5923/j.arch.20170704.01

Vivek Shandas, Yasuyo Makido & Salim Ferwati, Rapid urban growth and land use patterns in Doha, Qatar: Opportunities for sustainability?; European Journal of Sustainable Development Research 2017, 1(2), 11. doi: 10.20897/ejosdr.201711