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.