Outdoor thermal comfort analysis in five neighborhoods downtown Abu Dhabi (UAE), envi-met validation on site measurements

The Islamic cities have evolved during the centuries, but the core of the centre has kept its original physiognomy. The narrow streets the columns and the shaded areas, the small windows the thick walls, the mashrabiya. The city could have been discovered one step at a time. The arcades, the wind catcher. In the modern time such city is quite difficult to be developed since the car has become a necessity. In European cities the metro lines have solved many issues connected to the difficulties in interfering into the street system. In the Middle Eastern countries because of such fast development the new cities have become car oriented ones. The narrow streets, the shaded areas the wind catcher the wall thickness the mashrabiya the wind catcher are some of the elements that recall to the visitors the similarity with the old Islamic cities. But since the needs of the today society have been changed so has been also the structure of the city. In particular in such developing countries. Nevertheless there is still place for improvement. From the project to the execution have been changes some parts of the initial expectations. They will be analysed with the purpose of modifying them. However, the concept of a vertical city, the electric cars, the innovative wall envelopes, the photovoltaic panels, the innovative roof envelope (Library) the shading elements (Siemens) have made this city a very good example of how history of planning in Islamic cities can be applied.