Open House: First and Last Mile in MENA

We would like to invite all our members to the launching of our research projects on First and Last Mile Connectivity.

Our new knowledge report aims to explore the landscape of the first and last mile (FLM) connectivity with a specific focus on assessing the current state of walkability in several MENA cities, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Muscat, and Cairo. The report underlines the importance of FLM connectivity and then seeks to evaluate the urban master plans of these MENA cities to discern their strategies for improving walkability. Further, the study gathers the perceptions of public transport authorities and the public in order to provide a holistic and multi-dimensional analysis of the current state of walkability in the MENA region.

Based on the collected inputs, a gap analysis was conducted, which resulted in a roadmap for enhancing walkability in the region. The study found that several actions can be taken in the short and long terms to improve infrastructure, safety, collaborations, and the cultural shift towards active mobility.

As cities across MENA continue to expand and modernise, integrating micromobility into transportation planning is crucial for providing more resilient and adaptive urban environments. This study identifies the current and future strategies of several shared micromobility service providers in cities including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Muscat, and Cairo, for enabling micromobility. In addition, this project collects the public’s feedback about the current shared micromobility landscape in these cities. Consequently, recommendations for enabling better shared micromobility services to align with the public needs, are suggested.

The study reveals a rising interest in shared micromobility services, with providers continuously enhancing and customizing their offerings to meet customer needs. To further boost the adoption of shared micromobility in the region, several strategies are recommended. Collaboration between authorities and shared micromobility providers is essential to create a well-regulated and safe ecosystem that supports shared micromobility use in MENA cities.