Drivers of urban sprawl in Dammam metropolitan area (DMA), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A qualitative exploration

Urban Sprawl, categorized by the city's outward expansion into their adjacent areas, has emerged as a pressing and complex challenge in urban development worldwide. Understanding the urban sprawl drivers becomes essential for efficient and sustainable urban development as cities transform and grow. Only some studies have provided a comprehensive analysis combining local perspectives with international understanding, making it challenging to form policies to prevent urban sprawl. This study is conducted with the primary aim of determining the drivers of urban sprawl. The qualitative analysis of focus group, interviews and document analysis have been done to reveal the multifaceted drivers of urban sprawl. The thematic analysis reveals the main role of economic incentives, government policies, accessibility, zoning regulation, cultural aspects, land use changes, Low Spatial Distribution of Productivity and limited Capacity of Dammam Urban Planning Department in influencing the spatial dynamics of urban sprawl in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. This research study connects the local context to the worldwide urbanization trends, contributing to the broader international perspective on the drivers of urban sprawl. The study findings will be helpful in effectively addressing the urban sprawl challenge. With the local focus and international insight, this research study offers a great knowledge for communities, policy makers and urban planners, enabling more sustainable urban development in Saudi Arabia and beyond.