Planning in the Middle East, moving toward the future

This paper, summarizes the lessons learned in this special issue of Habitat International on Planning Issues in the Middle East. After summarizing the highlights of the papers included in the issue, the paper looks ahead to the challenges facing the regionʹs planners. These include coping with the rapid growth of cities, developing stronger planning institutions, integrating events in urban areas with the rural hinterlands, incorporating consultation with the public in the planning processes and meeting the inevitable challenges that will accompany globalization.