Notes on UAE heritage clustering for urban planning

The extremely dynamic expansion of urban infrastructures in the UAE is typically epitomized by the example of Dubai, despite being well-observable as well in all cities in the seven emirates. Sustainable forms of heritage tourism, and of site access in particular, represent a major component for development planning, in which extra- or inter-urban variables, such as geography, perceived distances, and road systems, unsurprisingly are part of. Yet multiple other factors create complex integrations with the city itself, and force tourism providers and other economic players into specific positionings. What this means in practice is that heritage visitor attractions are not mere static components of a tourism mix, but rather part of a continuous negotiation between city and territory. This paper examines and compares several case studies in the United Arab Emirates, using a cluster-based approach, from the level of the individual heritage attraction tothat of urban tourism systems.