How Old Dubai's historic streets beat extreme heat

In the heart of Dubai lies the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, a place where the city’s past meets the present in a unique way. Long before air conditioning became common, the people of Old Dubai developed smart ways to keep their homes and streets cool during the intense desert heat. These traditional methods are now being looked at again, as modern cities search for ways to save energy and deal with rising temperatures.

Walking through the narrow lanes of Al Fahidi, you immediately notice how much cooler it feels compared to the rest of the city. The high walls and shaded alleys block out the harsh sunlight, creating a comfortable environment even during the hottest part of the day. One of the most interesting features is the windcatcher towers, or barjeels, which rise above the rooftops. These towers are designed to catch cool breezes from above and direct them down into the houses, pushing out the hot air and lowering the temperature inside. This simple but effective design shows how people in the past used their knowledge of the environment to make life more comfortable.

The homes in Old Dubai also have inner courtyards, which play a big role in keeping the buildings cool. At night, cool air settles in these courtyards and then spreads into the surrounding rooms. The walls are often painted light colors to reflect sunlight, and special window screens called mashrabiya allow air to flow in while blocking out the sun’s heat. The streets, known as sikkas, are very narrow, which means they stay shaded for most of the day and allow air to move freely. This makes it much easier for people to walk around, even when the temperature outside is extremely high.

Dubai’s modern climate can be brutal, with temperatures sometimes reaching 51 degrees Celsius. Air conditioning is now used everywhere, and it accounts for more than 70 percent of the country’s electricity use during the summer. However, experts believe that traditional cooling methods, like wind towers and shaded courtyards, can help reduce the need for air conditioning and save energy. These ideas are being used in new buildings and even in entire neighborhoods. For example, Masdar City in Abu Dhabi is designed with narrow streets and wind towers to keep the area cool naturally, reducing the need for artificial cooling.

Many new buildings in Dubai, such as the Madinat Jumeirah complex and the Khalifa Al Tjer Mosque, use these old designs to stay cool. Some buildings have special screens that open and close to control the amount of sunlight that enters, while others use courtyards and tall trees for shade. These ideas are not limited to Dubai; buildings in other countries, like India and Japan, also use courtyards and special windows to keep cool in different climates.

Experts say that by learning from the past and using these smart designs, we can build homes and cities that are comfortable and use less energy. This is important for protecting the environment and saving money. Even though technology has changed a lot, the old ways of keeping cool in Dubai still work very well today. By using these ideas, people everywhere can stay cool without relying so much on electricity and air conditioning.