Between Containers and Warehouses: Rehabilitating Port Proximities in UAE Coastal Cities

Len Chapman’s early photographs of Port Rashid serve as an entry point into the narrative of port construction and its profound impact on global commerce and urban landscapes. These images, capturing the nascent stages of development, bear witness to the monumental transformations spurred by the construction of new ports and the modernization of historical ones in the UAE. The rapid economic and urban growth in the UAE, exemplified by projects like Port Rashid, reflects broader shifts in Gulf port geopolitics and global trade dynamics. The emergence of megaports and the era of containerization have reshaped maritime infrastructure and trade routes. This gave rise to unintended consequences, such as the disruption of coastal urban fabrics and the emergence of residual unsolved spaces. Recent recovery and rehabilitation processes like “districtification,” museumification, and cultural reuse raise critical questions about long‐term sustainability, public access preservation, and achieving a balance between passive and active engagement with port proximities. This article delves into specific case studies, including the Al Hamra ghost village, Al Shindagha, and MIZA Abu Dhabi to explore the impacts of maritime capitalism on urban and cultural landscapes. These sites reveal the challenges of balancing economic growth with sustainable urban recovery efforts, including “districtification,” museumification, and cultural reuse. The analysis underscores the complexities of ensuring long‐term sustainability, public access, and active engagement in port‐adjacent areas. By adopting descriptive and comparative methodologies, this research aims to deepen the understanding of how maritime commerce shapes coastal urban areas in the UAE. The study contributes to discussions on sustainable urban development and heritage preservation, emphasizing the need for mindful urban planning in the Gulf’s rapidly evolving and economically competitive landscape.