Redefining Urban Success: Why Resilience Will Matter More Than Density

For many years, urban success was judged largely by how efficiently cities used space. Concentrating people, activity, and investment was seen as the fastest path to economic growth. That approach helped cities expand and prosper, but on its own it no longer tells the full story.

Today, the cities that will truly succeed are those that prioritise resilience, liveability, and long-term financial sustainability as the foundations of growth.

By 2050, almost 70 per cent of the world’s population will be living in cities. This rapid urbanisation brings opportunity, but it also places sustained pressure on infrastructure, natural resources, and essential public services.

As cities grow, the central challenge has shifted. It is no longer just about how many people a city can accommodate, but how well it can function over time, especially in the face of economic uncertainty, environmental stress, and social change. In this context, resilience has become one of the clearest measures of urban success.

This shift has important implications for how cities are planned and financed. Growth cannot move faster than the infrastructure that supports it. Transport networks, utilities, energy systems, digital connectivity, and social infrastructure all shape how a city works in practice, not just in theory.

When land-use planning is aligned with long-term infrastructure investment, cities tend to operate more efficiently, cost less to run over time, and carry far less risk.

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Dubai offers a strong example of this approach in action. Through the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan and the Real Estate Sector Strategy 2033, the Emirate has brought together population growth, regulation, and infrastructure investment under a single long-term vision.

The results are reflected in sustained market confidence. According to JLL, land transaction values rose by more than 400 per cent between 2019 and 2024, while transaction volumes nearly tripled. With AED 43 billion in land transactions recorded in the first half of 2025 alone, that momentum continues.

London provides a similar lesson. Long-term frameworks such as the London Infrastructure Plan 2050 and the London Growth Plan focus on coordinating transport, housing, and utilities within a highly constrained urban environment. This joined-up planning helps reduce congestion, lower long-term operating costs, and protect the city’s competitiveness over time.

What this shows is that infrastructure is no longer just the backdrop to urban growth. It is one of the main drivers of resilience and long-term value. This is also why mixed-use development has become increasingly important.