A tale of two cities: one risen from the sand to become a global icon, the other a green city in the sun choking on its own potential. The contrast could not be sharper.

A recent deep-dive visit to the United Arab Emirates—spanning Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah—reveals a blueprint that Nairobi desperately needs to study. While attending the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, it became clear that the UAE’s success is not just about oil money; it is about the ruthless execution of urban planning and a commitment to livability that Kenya’s capital has lost sight of.

Transport: The Spine of the City

The most glaring difference lies in mobility. The UAE has integrated its transport systems seamlessly. Metro lines feed into bus routes, which connect to air-conditioned walkways. In Nairobi, we are still debating the basics of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) while matatus rule the roads with chaotic impunity. The lesson from Dubai is that public transport must be dignified, reliable, and interconnected. It is not enough to build roads; you must move people.

Sharjah offers a particularly relevant model for Nairobi’s satellite towns. It functions as a residential hub for workers in Dubai but maintains its own distinct identity and infrastructure. Nairobi’s dormitory towns like Ongata Rongai and Ruiru are currently unplanned sprawls. Adopting the Sharjah model of decentralized services and robust connectivity could decongest Nairobi and dignify the lives of commuters.

• Green Urbanism: Despite being a desert, the UAE invests heavily in urban greenery, with trees and plants lining every pavement, often surrounded by concrete seating. Nairobi, once the "Green City in the Sun," is concreting over its green spaces at an alarming rate. We must reclaim our streets for pedestrians.
• Housing with Dignity: The UAE’s approach to housing involves clear zoning and strict maintenance standards. Nairobi’s housing crisis is exacerbated by unregulated high-rises that lack basic amenities like water and sewage, creating vertical slums.
• The Maintenance Culture: In the UAE, infrastructure is built to last and maintained religiously. In Kenya, we build and forget, leading to the rapid decay of expensive public projects.

The Vision Gap

The UAE proves that with a clear vision and disciplined governance, a city can transform its environment. Nairobi has the climate, the greenery, and the vibrancy that the UAE had to artificially create. What we lack is the discipline.

We do not need to copy the UAE’s skyscrapers, but we must copy their mindset. A city is a machine for living, and right now, Nairobi’s gears are grinding. It is time to grease them with bold planning and the political will to enforce order over chaos.