Invisibility of homeless people in the peripheral neighborhoods of Dubai (UAE): the influence of federal decree nº 31/2021 on public spaces

Abstract

This study investigates the presence of aporophobia and social exclusion in Dubai through the analysis of its legislation and urban elements found in public spaces in the 21st century, with a focus on 2025. The research adopts the perspective of global cities to understand how an internationally projected metropolis deals with marginalized populations, especially those experiencing extreme social vulnerability. The methodology includes documentary analysis, particularly Federal Decree No. 31/2021, the development of a theoretical framework addressing global cities, geographic space, urban form and function, and aporophobia, as well as in loco observations in parks and public squares. Geotechnologies were also employed, such as the Geographic Information System (GIS), to produce thematic maps and photographic records of urban elements that may indicate exclusionary practices and hostile architecture. The results reveal symbolic, legal, and spatial mechanisms that contribute to the invisibilization of poverty in Dubai, highlighting how urban planning and governance may reinforce or mitigate aporophobic practices. The study contributes to Urban and Social Geography by expanding the debate on inequality and exclusion in international urban contexts, with emphasis on the Arabian region.